BEST INDIAN RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK
“Indian food is like classical music raga- it takes time to build up to a crescendo.” – Shobhaa De
As the Indian Diaspora has traversed the seven seas, it has carried with it the rich, aromatic taste of India and spread it to all four corners of the world. A veritable melting pot of varied cuisines and cultures, the city of New York is no different. Home to a multitude of people, the city of dreams has embraced diverse cultures, ethnicities and cuisines with open arms and ready plates.
As the Indian presence in New York has grown, so has the variety of Indian dishes and cuisines, bolstered by the rise of a new wave of Indian restaurants that offer everything ranging from famous staples like succulent butter chicken to the more traditional and soul-warming South Indian fare.
As per a recent article by Bloomberg, New York now has the best Indian food outside of India, leaving London far behind as a new generation of culinary innovators takes traditional Indian food to a whole new level in the Big Apple.
If you’re confused about which place to try first, don’t worry as MYP has already curated a list of the 11 best Indian Restaurants in New York for you!
Before we begin, make sure to follow me on Instagram at @
My Yellow Plate
11. SONA, NEW YORK
How can one create a list of the best Indian restaurants in New York without mentioning Sona, the upscale Indian eatery launched by Bollywood-Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra. In India, Sona means ‘gold’ and the interiors of this upcoming restaurant certainly evoke a sense of glamour from the moment one steps inside. Under the aegis of chef Hari Nayak, the restaurant serves up quite a few novel Indian dishes including goat cheese and spinach samosas, golgappa shots with vodka and tequila, not to mention the crowd favourite, vada pav straight from the streets of Mumbai.
10. AMMA, NEW YORK
True to its name Amma, which means ‘mother’ in India, the next restaurant on our list is an intimate place where both the ambience and the food serve to soothe your soul. Started in 2002 by Anju Sharma, Amma with its grand interiors offers a stylish, upscale spot wherein to enjoy your dinner. The kitchen serves up a delectable array of dishes like the Tandoori Sea Bass, the Saffron Malai Chicken and Cochin Crab Cake, with the menu encompassing dishes from all of India, from top to bottom.
9. JUNOON, NEW YORK
Junoon means passion and that’s exactly what makes this Michelin-star Indian restaurant, one of the best in New York City. The brainchild of restaurateur Rajesh Bhardwaj, Junoon serves a modern interpretation of classic Indian dishes amidst a vibrant and trendsetting atmosphere. This award-winning restaurant is known for almost all its dishes, but the ones that caught our eye or rather our taste buds were the Goan shrimp in a spicy piri-piri sauce, grilled monkfish in yoghurt sauce with serrano chillies, lamb chops and the Chicken Malvan.
8. CHOLA, NEW YORK
If you thought that Indian food was all chicken and meat, then think again. Taking inspiration from India’s diverse 7,000-km coastline, Chola truly breaks the mould of what a standard Indian restaurant should be. Named after a famous Tamil dynasty that dates back to over 2,000 years ago, Chola is the brainchild of owners, Shiva Natarajan and Min Buhjel, who sought to bring the taste of India's coastal palate to New York. From the Murgh Vindaloo to the shrimp in red sauce and lobster curry or sautéed crab, everything here is served with a dash of spice.
7. GANESH TEMPLE CANTEEN, NEW YORK
When it comes to fine dining and enjoying your food, a temple may perhaps be the last place that comes to mind, yet the Ganesh Temple Canteen, a simple cafeteria located in the basement of a temple in Flushing, New York, dishes up some truly authentic South Indian dishes that make this humble eatery a must-try. While the menu may be all vegetarian, do not let it deter you as this place has some of the best dosas in town. Originally designed to serve as food to the gods, every dish here encompasses thousands of years of culinary heritage in one bite.
6. DELHI HEIGHTS, NEW YORK
Get ready to elevate your dining experience to new heights as the next place on our list offers a unique mix of Indian, Nepali and Tibetan dishes. Apart from a wide variety of vegetarian dishes, Delhi Heights is also famous for its classic bhuna gosht or roasted lamb and its soft, yet crispy naans. So, the next time you’re craving Indian fare, head out to Delhi Heights for a taste of the Himalayas and let this fine dining, buffet and bar elevate you to new heights.
5. JACKSON DINER, NEW YORK
Leaving the crisp white linens of fine dining far behind, the next spot on our list serves up wholesome Indian goodness, right in the heart of Queens, New York. A universal crowd-pleaser, this well-run eatery is a favourite with local Indians and New Yorkers alike, serving a diverse array of delectable dishes that include classic North Indian appetizers, delicious Indian curries and tandoori food. You can try a bit of everything from their buffet or order a few choice items from their a la carte menu, whatever be the case, satisfaction is guaranteed.
4. ADDA, NEW YORK
Another amazing collaboration between chef Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar, Adda invites you to a rich feast of Indian culture with its authentic fare. A relaxed eatery set in Long Island City, Adda is perfectly suited to its environs, offering a nice place to drink, eat and simply hang out with friends. True to its eclectic nature, the menu here offers a bizarre range of culinary delights, including Kale Pakoras, Tandoori Gobi, Dilliwala Butter Chicken, Bheja Fry, Jaunglee Maas, and Lucknow Dum Biryani. Got you drooling, did we? Well, next time you’re in Long Island, just drop by for a beer and some finger-lickin' deliciousness. Trust us, you’re in for a treat!
3. DHAMAKA, NEW YORK
As the name indicates, this Indian eatery in New York awakens your taste buds with a bang! This latest collaboration between chef Chintan Pandya and seasoned restaurateur Roni Mazumdar, Dhamaka promises an explosion of flavours with every dish on their unapologetically Indian menu. Recreating traditional Indian flavours in New York is no mean feat. but Chintan Pandya does it in grand style with his Kashmiri-style Tabak Maaz fried ribs and Lasooni or garlic prawns. A key ingredient on the menu here is mutton or goat meat that is lavishly prepared in a variety of ways to tickle your taste buds.
2. TAMARIND TRIBECA, NEW YORK
If Dhamaka is unapologetically Indian, then the next place on our list is fine dining all the way with an Indian twist, of course. The recipient of a prestigious Michelin star, Tamarind Tribeca, located in Manhattan, New York merges the old with the new, reinventing classical Indian flavours with a contemporary touch that adapts these dishes for the refined New York palette. With a dedicated team of highly-skilled chefs and under the guidance of its visionary owner, Avtar Walia, the Tamarind Tribeca creates a perfect symphony of flavours represented in dishes from each of India’s 29 states.
1. INDIAN ACCENT, NEW YORK
Offering an inventive approach to Indian cuisine, Indian Accent, under the guidance of celebrated chef Manish Mehrotra, reinterprets traditional Indian dishes and re-plates them with a cosmopolitan twist. A treat for both the palate and the eyes, the food at Indian Accent arrives on long wooden trays, artfully arranged to ignite all of your senses. Recommended dishes here included their signature soy keema served with a quail yolk on top, dosas served with black truffles and treacle tart topped with Doda barfi. If you do happen to visit, do not forget to try their amazing sea bass, chicken kofta, spicy spare ribs, and novelty kulchas filled with blue cheese, wild mushrooms and even butter chicken.
So, which is your favourite Indian restaurant in New York? Do let me know on Instagram @ My Yellow Plate