55 Best Indian Restaurants in the U.S.

From traditional to regional to contemporary, these Indian restaurants represent the best of this delicious cuisine in the U.S.

55 Best Indian Restaurants in the U.S.

Best Indian Restaurants in America — Let's take a closer look at the best Indian restaurants in the U.S.

Indians are the second-largest immigrant population in the United States. Besides bringing culture and diversity with them, American Indians have given the country something very valuable: food.

Indian food is incredibly popular around the world. Its richness in flavor, its fragrant spices and its wide variety make it — in our book — one of the best cuisines that exist. Luckily, in the U.S., you're very likely to have access to delicious Indian cuisine no matter where you are.

Here are the 55 best Indian restaurants in the U.S.

55. Himalayan Bistro

Vegetable samosas from Himalayan Bistro, one of the best Indian restaurants in Boston.

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Rating: 50 (Out of 100)

Visit: Himalayan Bistro

* The restaurant ratings come from trusted reviewers on Tripadvisor.

Bottom Line: Himalayan Bistro

Tandoor kebab from Himalayan Bistro Indian Restaurant

Himalayan Bistro serves delicious Indian and Nepali food at very reasonable prices. A neighborhood favorite, the restaurant's lunch special draws in a faithful crowd seeking to be filled and satisfied without having to empty their pockets.

We recommend ordering momos, one of the most delicious Nepali appetizers, while the Goa shrimp curry is a particularly good entree.

54. Baar Baar

Walnut Manti at Baar Baar Indian restaurant

Location: New York, New York

Rating: 50.6

Visit: Baar Baar

Bottom Line: Baar Baar

We can imagine people over a certain age complaining about Baar Baar, a place that really does the most to impress with a cool vibe (maybe a little too much). The industrial setting matches its vibe, which is only enhanced by a large mural of an Indian woman right on the wall.

On weekends, the restaurant hosts a "Bollywood brunch," complete with a live DJ and MC who will definitely encourage you to dance at some point. Try the paneer chili or Brussels sprouts foogath.

53. Pure Indian Cuisine

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Rating: 51.7

Visit: Pure Indian Cuisine

Bottom Line: Pure Indian Cuisine

The whole point of Vegas is to try things you've never tried before. But between the excitement and excess, sometimes all you want is the taste of the familiar and reliable. For that, you can turn to Pure Indian Cuisine.

As its name suggests, this is pure, simple, delicious Indian cuisine, exactly how you like it and with all the staple dishes you can expect from an Indian restaurant. It's a new kind of comfort food.

51. Taj Indian Restaurant (Tie)

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Rating: 52

Visit: Taj Indian Restaurant

Bottom Line: Taj Indian Restaurant

Come to Nashville for the music, stay for the food. It's not easy to stand out in the Nashville food scene, which combines the best of southern cuisine with an array of global flavors.

Yet Taj Indian Restaurant, located in the middle of all the action, has managed to win the hearts of tourists and locals alike. Somewhat surprisingly, the restaurant is known for its seafood dishes, which include a heavenly fish vindaloo.

51. Indigo (Tie)

Location: Washington, D.C.

Rating: 52

Visit:Indigo

Bottom Line: Indigo

Unpretentious and unassuming, Indigo knows it doesn't need to do much to impress. After all, people don't come here for the fancy presentation but, instead, for the absolutely amazing food.

The yellow house where the restaurant is located is welcoming. Along with the home-made quality of the food, it makes you feel as if you were eating at your friend's house — if that friend served you in disposable plates and made the best paneer paratha in the city.

50. Saffron Indian Cuisine

Paneer Tikka saffron is a tasty Indian dish

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

Rating: 52.9

Visit: Saffron Indian Cuisine

Bottom Line: Saffron Indian Cuisine

Saffron calls itself "innovative Indian dining" because of its willingness to play around while maintaining a commitment to tradition. Sunil Handa, co-owner and head chef, worked as a chef at a fine dining establishment in New Dehli.

You'll find several regions of India represented in the extensive menu. Or you can take advantage of the restaurant's generous buffets.

48. The Bombay Club (Tie)

Location: Washington D.C.

Rating: 53

Visit: The Bombay Club

Bottom Line: The Bombay Club

This high-end D.C. establishment is a favorite place for business lunches among politicians. The atmosphere is elevated, but what brings people in is the impeccable menu and the quality of the food.

Despite its name, the Bombay Club serves food from various Indian regions, so you can enjoy your favorite dishes or try something new.

48. Tamarind (Tie)

Location: New York, New York

Rating: 53

Visit: Tamarind

Bottom Line: Tamarind

Tamarind touts itself as "the finest Indian restaurant in NYC." The Tribeca restaurant is quite fine indeed, with every detail of the food and the interior designed to exude grandeur.

Diners are invited to ooh and ahh while witnessing magic happen in the display kitchen. We particularly love the tandoor oven, which tantalizes you as it cooks bread, meats and vegetables to charred, tender perfection.

47. Bollywood Theater

Location: Portland, Oregon

Rating: 54.1

Visit: Bollywood Theater

Bottom Line: Bollywood Theater

Despite a somewhat cheesy name, Bollywood Theater actually delivers on providing really good Indian food. Most of the menu is Mumbai-centric, though there is inspiration from other regions as well.

Don't skip over the street food section of the menu, which includes delectable treats like Kati rolls and vada pav. We also recommend the pork vindaloo and the grilled tikka bowl.

46. Annapurna Cafe & Yeti Bar

Meal at Annapurna Cafe, a fantastic Indian restaurant

Location: Seattle, Washington

Rating: 54.5

Visit: Annapurna Cafe & Yeti Bar

Bottom Line: Annapurna Cafe & Yeti Bar

Serving Indian, Nepalese and Himalayan food, Annapurna Cafe is dark but ambient. Fresh ingredients ensure that the food is fragrant and full of taste.

Try the slow-cooked lamb curry or the chana masala if you're looking for a vegetarian option. Before or after your meal, make sure you pass by the upstairs Yeti Bar, which has unique cocktails and murals of yetis serving drinks.

45. Ghee Indian Kitchen

Small side dishes at Ghee Indian Kitchen

Location: Miami, Florida

Rating: 54.9

Visit: Ghee Indian Kitchen

Bottom Line: Ghee Indian Kitchen

The extensive menu at Ghee Indian Kitchen offers guests traditional Indian dishes like the saag paneer curry as well as fusion flavors found in items like the ninam ranch churrasco.

But no matter what you choose to order, you can rest assured that it'll be made with locally sourced ingredients for a fresh, delicious taste.

44. Tabla

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Rating: 55

Visit: Tabla

Bottom Line: Tabla

This chic Midtown restaurant may have a modern decor, but it stays true to traditional Indian flavors.

People come here for the food, of course, which includes a killer goat curry and a delicious aloo gobi. But the restaurant is also known for its signature cocktails, which puts an Indian twist on classic drinks. Try the Chai Old Fashion, which adds chai spices to bourbon.

43. Choolaah

Location: Orange Village, Ohio

Rating: 55.3

Visit: Choolaah

Bottom Line: Choolaah

We wouldn't normally include chain restaurants in a "best of" list, but Choolah's commitment to good food is so strong, we just had to feature it. With a handful of locations in Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania, this causal chain specializes in tandoor dishes, using custom-made clay ovens to cook meals to perfection.

Tandoor BBQ is the specialty, but there are plenty of vegetarian options as well.

42. IndeBlue

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rating: 55.8

Visit:IndeBlue

Bottom Line: IndeBlue

Chef Ramola got his culinary degree in Mumbai and worked around the world before settling down at Indeblue in Philadelphia. The food is superb, and the ambience is best described as "elevated casual."

The establishment also boasts several killer cocktails and a tasting option in which you can try a bit of many dishes if you're feeling indecisive.

41. Chai Pani

Location: Decatur, Georgia

Rating: 57.1

Visit: Chai Pani

Bottom Line: Chai Pani

Chai Pani focuses on cuisine from Gujarat, chef Meherwan Irani's home state. Its other specialties are street food and thalis, traditional Indian family meals. The result is as amazing as it sounds, with unforgettable dishes at affordable prices.

Try the misal pav, made with moong bean curry and rassa, a spicy broth made with tomato and coconut.

40. Rasa Contemporary Indian

Location: Burlingame, California

Rating: 57.2

Visit: Rasa Contemporary Indian

Bottom Line: Rasa Contemporary Indian

Boasting one Michelin star, Rasa stands out from other contemporary Indian restaurants by refusing to cater to sensitive palates.

Its menu skews heavily to South Indian food and incorporates international elements, without watering down the levels of spice and condiments that people from the subcontinent will immediately appreciate as a true taste of home.

39. Punjab Indian Cuisine

Location: Poulsbo, Washington

Rating: 57.4

Visit: Punjab Indian Cuisine

Bottom Line: Punjab Indian Cuisine

Located in a town of just over 10,000 people, Punjab Indian Cuisine brings culinary diversity to the people of Poulsbo.

Specializing in Punjab cuisine, tandooris are what the restaurant does best. To fend off hunger while you wait for your tandoori dish, order an onion bhaji or a pakora.

38. Kohinoor Indian Restaurant and Lounge

Location: Champaign, Illinois

Rating: 57.8

Visit: Kohinoor Indian Restaurant and Lounge

Bottom Line: Kohinoor Indian Restaurant and Lounge

For more than 40 years, Kohinoor has been serving North Indian food to hungry Champaign residents. Suffice it to say that it has amassed quite a following of loyal customers who come for the lamb jalfrize, fish mushroom chili and a wide variety of other dishes.

The restaurant is also more than happy to accommodate its guests by making any vegetarian meal vegan upon request.

37. NeeHee’s

Location: Canton, Michigan

Rating: 57.9

Visit: NeeHee’s

Bottom Line: NeeHee’s

Specializing in vegetarian street food, NeeHee's offers over 150 items in its extremely extensive menu. And the numbers don't diminish the quality of the food.

On the other hand, no matter what you choose off the menu, it's guaranteed to taste like the very best of Indian home cooking. The menu also has items that cater to those looking for vegan, gluten-free and orthodox Hindu Brahmin dishes.

36. Punjabi Grocery and Deli

Location: New York, New York

Rating: 58

Visit: Punjabi Grocery and Deli

Bottom Line: Punjabi Grocery and Deli

Located in the East Village, this literal hole-in-the-wall restaurant is as no-frills as it gets. You can't even get a seat, as all the food is served to go. And yet, any time you pass by, you'll see people lining up for a taste of this traditional Indian food.

If you want a cheap meal that's filling and delicious, you can't go wrong with Punjabi Grocery and Deli.

35. Ganesh Temple Canteen

Location: New York, New York

Rating: 58.5

Visit: Ganesh Temple Canteen

Bottom Line: Ganesh Temple Canteen

There are a million and one Indian restaurants in New York, but few are run by Hindu temples. This is what sets the canteen at Ganesh Temple, also known as the Hindu Temple Society of North America apart.

Offering a completely vegetarian menu, the canteen attracts both Hindus who come to pray, leave offerings and feast, and respectful non-Hindus who come to see the beautiful temple and taste its delicious food.

34. Baba Indian Restaurant

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Rating: 58.7

Visit: Baba Indian Restaurant

Bottom Line: Baba Indian Restaurant

Contemporary Indian is good and all, but sometimes, you want a truly traditional place. If you're in Cincinnati, there's simply no better place for authentic Indian than Baba.

The restaurant does not pretend to reinvent any culinary wheels. Rather, it relies on the tried-and-true recipes of the gigantic country. Expect delicious vindaloos, biryanis, curries, tandoori dishes and more.

33. Kochi Indian Cuisine

Indian food served on a banana leaf at Kochi Indian Cuisine

Location: East Windsor, New Jersey

Rating: 59.1

Visit:Kochi Indian Cuisine

Bottom Line: Kochi Indian Cuisine

Kochi Indian Cuisine specializes in food from the state of Kerala, also known as the Spice Coast. Expect strong flavors, spicy dishes and absolute deliciousness.

Try the Kerala chicken curry with coconut milk, which takes creaminess to absolute perfection.

32. Rooh

Location: San Francisco, California

Rating: 59.8

Visit:Rooh

Bottom Line: Rooh

Calling itself "progressive Indian," Rooh is considered one of the best upscale Indian restaurants in San Francisco. The decor and food are a blend of tradition and modernity that actually works.

It might be difficult picking only one thing from the mouth-watering menu, but you can order several sharing plates or small plates.

31. Curry Leaves Indian Cuisine

Location: Tampa, Florida

Rating: 59.9

Visit: Curry Leaves Indian Cuisine

Bottom Line: Curry Leaves Indian Cuisine

When you first pull up to this restaurant, you might think you're in the wrong place due to its location near a gas station. But remember what your grandmother taught you: Don't judge a book by its cover.

Once you're inside the restaurant, you'll be greeted by a friendly atmosphere and the fragrant smells of an Indian buffet. The restaurant prides itself on traditional Indian cuisine that's affordable and delicious.

30. Asiana Indian Cuisine

Location: Austin, Texas

Rating: 61

Visit: Asiana Indian Cuisine

Bottom Line: Asiana Indian Cuisine

Yes, this restaurant is located in a strip mall, which would make us initially weary, too, but the reviews speak for themselves. Considered one of the best Indian food joints in Austin, you'll get a mix of regional Indian cuisine as well as Indo-Chinese dishes.

This guarantees that the menu can satisfy practically anyone with its array of samosas, dosas, pakoras and perfectly puffy naan.

28. Lehja (Tie)

Location: Richmond, Virginia

Rating: 61.7

Visit: Lehja

Bottom Line: Lehja

If you're interested in contemporary Indian that's not too stiff and uptight, you've found your answer in Lehja.

Everything in this popular Richmond restaurant is a solid choice, but we recommend the deconstructed butter chicken for an unexpected dish or the duck salli boti, which is made with duck confit, ginger and potato crisps made with duck fat.

28. Taj of India (Tie)

Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia

Rating: 61.7

Visit: Taj of India

Bottom Line: Taj of India

Bringing great Indian and Nepalese food to the Shenandoah Valley, Taj of India has all the tikkas and curries you could want.

By all accounts, their samosas are mind-blowingly good, as is the saag aloo and the chana masala. If the day is nice, ask to be seated on the patio to enjoy the food even more.

27. Indian Accent

Location: New York, New York

Rating: 62.4

Visit: Indian Accent

Bottom Line: Indian Accent

Indian accent has locations in New York; London, England; and New Delhi, India. The restaurant claims that it "explores progressive ideas in Indian cuisine while maintaining traditional integrity."

Choose between three- or four-course tasting menus that infuse Indian cuisine with global flavors.

26. Indian Clay Pot

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Rating: 62.5

Visit: Indian Clay Pot

Bottom Line: Indian Clay Pot

As the name suggests, the house specialty of this restaurant are the many foods made in traditional Indian clay pots. This method of cooking gives a deep, earthy flavor and makes meats and vegetables tender.

The menu is so extensive, you'll definitely have a hard time deciding what to order. We suggest starting with the crispy onion pakora as an appetizer, then moving on to the coconut-infused clay pot chicken.

25. Veda Modern Indian Bistro

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rating: 62.7

Visit: Veda Modern Indian Bistro

Bottom Line: Veda Modern Indian Bistro

Veda restaurant claims to bring diners "recipes straight from the kitchens of India" while also catering to American sensitivities. This means that you can expect modern decor, a long selection of wine and cocktails, and more desserts than are usually found on Indian restaurant menus.

Unless you're looking to feel like you're in India, all of these additions work in the restaurant's favor. They complement the excellent food, which includes everything from crab cakes to paneers.

23. India Oven (Tie)

Location: Mesa, Arizona

Rating: 63

Visit: India Oven

Bottom Line: India Oven

Specializing in Northern Indian cuisine, India Oven gives you options — lots of them.

For starters, you can choose to enjoy a generous buffet or to have an a la carte experience. If you choose the latter, the tandoori menu stands out (hence, the oven part of the restaurant's name). If you're not feeling like tandoori meats, you have a wide array of other menu items to choose from, though we'd still suggest pairing them with fluffy tandoori breads.

23. Kalachandji’s Restaurant & Palace (Tie)

Location: Dallas, Texas

Rating: 63

Visit: Kalachandji’s

Bottom Line: Kalachandji’s Restaurant & Palace

Proudly boasting its title as the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Dallas, Kalachandji’s has managed to survive for over 35 years in meat-centric Texas. Its success is due, of course, to the quality of its Indian food. But part of its appeal comes from the restaurant's commitment to Ayurvedic cooking practices. This ancient tradition is a holistic medicine practice, which places a large emphasis on food.

Even if you're an omnivore, we recommend coming here. Trust us, you won't even miss meat while dining at this restaurant.

22. Taj Campton Place

Location: San Francisco, California

Rating: 63.7

Visit: Taj Campton Place

Bottom Line: Taj Campton Place

This two-Michelin-star restaurant is located inside a luxurious eponymous hotel.

Helmed by Chef Srijith Gopinathan, the high-end restaurant describes itself as "Cal-Indian" and provides diners with the choice between a four-course tasting menu or — for those who can handle the heat — a Spice Route menu that consists of six courses.

21. Zaika Indian Cuisine

Location: Miami, Florida

Rating: 63.8

Visit: Zaika Indian Cuisine

Bottom Line: Zaika Indian Cuisine

The executive chefs at this modern Indian restaurant bring with them prior experience at fine dining establishments in India. Bringing traditional flavors to Miami, they've made sure to appeal to the city's international and cosmopolitan sensibilities by letting global ingredients and recipes inform their cooking process.

Go for the malai kabab, the mushroom makhani or the shrimp vindaloo.

20. Adda

Location: New York City, New York

Rating: 64.5

Visit: Adda

Bottom Line: Adda

Considered a must-visit restaurant for anyone who's enthusiastic about Indian food in New York, Adda is worth the trek out to Long Island City.

The location is small and always crowded, but that's simply a testament to how good the food is. Start with a small bite like kale pakoda or aloo chana chaat. Then, make sure you order one of the items prepared in a traditional clay oven, like Chacha's lamb chops or, for vegetarians, the chili paneer tikka.

19. NaaN On Broughton

Location: Savannah, Georgia

Rating: 64.7

Visit: NaaN On Broughton

Bottom Line: NaaN On Broughton

Serving dishes from all over India, NaaN On Broughton prides itself on its variety. Here, you can order tasty street snacks or Indian delicacies, whichever you prefer.

The wide range of choices is what attracts repeat customers — that and the fresh ingredients that are (mostly) faithful to traditional Indian cuisine.

18. Chauhan Ale and Masala House

Cheesy fries at Chauhan Ale and Masala House

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Rating: 65.5

Visit: Chauhan Ale and Masala House

Bottom Line: Chauhan Ale and Masala House

Mac n cheese from Chauhan Ale and Masala House

Chef Maneet Chauhan boasts that her menu fuses Indian food with Southern flavors — a combination we can all agree is good enough to make angels cry of happiness. Try, for instance, the lamb keema papadi nachos or the methi malai mac n' cheese.

The restaurant also has an extensive drink selection that includes artisan ales.

17. The Dhaba

Location: Tempe, Arizona

Rating: 67.4

Visit: The Dhaba

Bottom Line: The Dhaba

Dhabas are highway restaurants you can find all over India and Pakistan that usually cook food in tandoor ovens and have a casual atmosphere.

This Tempe restaurant tries to embody the feeling of dhabas by serving Punjabi regional cuisine. We recommend any tandoori item but also encourage you to try the street treats and soups. The menu is quite extensive, so you'll definitely have the opportunity to find something you'll love.

15. Pub Royale (Tie)

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Rating: 67.7

Visit: Pub Royale

Bottom Line: Pub Royale

If you're a traditionalist, then Pub Royale is definitely not the place for you. This modern Indian pub is best described as Indian-American, offering delicious butter paneer and samosas as well as a burger spiced with aioli and hot pickles.

The cocktails are also a major draw, offering classics as well as house-originals, like the Royale chai.

15. Rasika (Tie)

Location: Washington, D.C.

Rating: 67.7

Visit:Rasika

Bottom Line: Rasika

Chili garlic or mint chutney sauce dish from Rasika

With a laid-back atmosphere and quality food, Rasika is a favored Indian restaurant in the nation's capital.

Chef Vikram Sunderam earned the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2013, and he proves he deserved it with creations like the crab pepper masala — made with Chesapeake Bay crab — and the halibut Bengali.

14. Curry Leaf Flavors of India

Salmon tandoori from Curry Leaf Flavors of India

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Rating: 68.8

Visit: Curry Leaf Flavors of India

Bottom Line: Curry Leaf Flavors of India

Did you know that there was such a thing as a family-owned restaurant in Las Vegas? As proof that not everything in this city is owned by a large corporation, Curry Leaf brings an elegant experience nourished with the feeling of home.

The head chef hails from the state of Gujarat. Though he trained as an engineer, his true passion was cooking, which is lucky for anyone in Nevada who wants good Indian food.

13. Mumbai Grill

Location: Dallas, Texas

Rating: 69.2

Visit: Mumbai Grill

Bottom Line: Mumbai Grill

This restaurant specializes in Mumbai cuisine but offers staples of Indian restaurants in the U.S. You'll find, for instance, tikkas, paneers, kormas and vindaloos.

But there are also some dishes that you don't find everywhere, like the comforting mulligatawny soup, made with curried vegetables and lentils, or the gajar ka halwa, a delicious dessert made with shredded carrots.

11. Ettan (Tie)

Location: Palo Alto, California

Rating: 70

Visit:Ettan

Bottom Line: Ettan

Ettan can best be described as California Indian, meaning that you'll get Indian flavors with signature California details. The menu, for instance, emphasizes local ingredients whenever possible, as is the case with the delicious local lamb pepper roast.

But besides the food, people come here for the ambience, which is set by the patterned splendor of the restaurant's interior.

11. India Palace (Tie)

Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Rating: 70

Visit: India Palace

Bottom Line: India Palace

India Palace is the lunch buffet of your dreams. Stop by for a mouth-watering meal that will leave you completely full without setting your finances back.

You'll usually find all the classics you can expect at Indian restaurants in the U.S., though the menu may vary from day to day. The sauces are great, and the meats are flavorful, so unbuckle your belt and dig in.

10. Spice Affair

Location: Beverly Hills, California

Rating: 70.6

Visit: Spice Affair

Bottom Line: Spice Affair

Sitting proudly on Beverly Hill's Restaurant Row, Spice Affair offers Los Angeles residents Indian food with locally sourced, organic ingredients.

We recommend the sundried tomato paneer tikka and the vegan amchuri choley.

9. Bombay House

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Rating: 72.2

Visit: Bombay House Salt Lake

Bottom Line: Bombay House Salt Lake

Established in 1993, Bombay House's popularity has allowed it to establish locations in Provo and West Jordan as well as Salt Lake City.

The food focuses on Bombay cuisine but also includes dishes from other parts of India. Enjoy naan freshly roasted in a tandoori oven as you gaze at the beautiful murals that decorate the restaurant's walls.

8. Paper Dosa

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Rating: 72.5

Visit: Paper Dosa

Bottom Line: Paper Dosa

Specializing in South Indian fare, Paper Dosa delivers on the promise of its name with an impressive and savory variety of dosas.

The restaurant started as a pop-up but proved so successful, it quickly graduated to a sit-down restaurant that has been going strong for over half a decade.

7. Biryani Bowl

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rating: 72.7

Visit: Biryani Bowl

Bottom Line: Biryani Bowl

With three locations in and around Philly, this Indian restaurant is prepared to conquer the U.S.

What makes it stand out is its commitment to Hyderabadi-style dum biryani. The method makes biryani heavier and spicier, so it's definitely for those who aren't afraid of sweat-inducing heat. There are other items on the menu, of course, but we would suggest sticking to the restaurant's flavorful specialty.

6. Spice Room

Location: Denver, Colorado

Rating: 74.1

Visit: Spice Room

Bottom Line: Spice Room

Spice Room makes it a point to make homecooked-style meals that are meant to be shared. Order a number of dishes, and share it with everyone to create an even deeper feeling of home. And if you're not too good with spicy food, don't fret! As the restaurant explains, "In Indian food, the word 'spice' does not mean 'hot' but, instead, herbs and spices."

So, take the name of the restaurant to mean that the food is bursting with flavor — though, yes, some of it is spicy in the western meaning of the word.

4. Bombay Indian Cuisine (Tie)

Location: Los Angeles, California

Rating: 75

Visit:B ombay Indian Cuisine

Bottom Line: Bombay Indian Cuisine

Bombay Indian Cuisine meal from overhead

Right next to famed Venice Beach is this tiny, almost nondescript Indian restaurant. This is the kind of place you'll probably miss unless you know about it.

Thankfully, word of it still hasn't gone out, but we'll let you in on the secret. The food and the setting are casual, and it can be easily ordered for takeout. It's also incredibly cheap and amazingly good.

4. Cafe Bombay (Tie)

Location: Bristol, Pennsylvania

Rating: 75

Visit: Cafe Bombay

Bottom Line: Cafe Bombay

With one of the largest Indian immigrant populations in the country, Pennsylvania takes its Indian food seriously.

Cafe Bombay's authentic menu includes dishes like lamb saag, crab goa and vegetable makhani.

3. Red Fort Cuisine of India

Location: Saint George, Utah

Rating: 76.6

Visit: Red Fort Cuisine of India

Bottom Line: Red Fort Cuisine of India

You may not expect to find an excellent and authentic Indian food restaurant in the small town of Saint George, but this is what makes Red Fort Cuisine of India such a gem.

After a trip to Zion or a hike in the Red Cliffs, treat yourself to food that will soothe your soul. The goat curry is particularly delicious.

2. Karma Modern Indian

Vegetarian heirloom paneer at Karma Modern Indian

Location: Washington, D.C.

Rating: 76.8

Visit: Karma Modern Indian

Bottom Line: Karma Modern Indian

Karma Modern Indian Chef Ajay's Chicken Chettinad

We love traditional Indian food, but it never hurts to enjoy a chef's creative — and tasteful — spin on your favorite dishes.

Karma Modern India is, well, modern, but it manages to be playful without straying from the soul of Indian cuisine. Expect impeccable presentation.

1. Angel

Location: New York, New York

Rating: 81.8

Visit:Angel

Bottom Line: Angel

This small Jackson Heights restaurant has at its helm Chef Amrit Pal Singh, who hails from the Indian state of Punjab. The menu is kept simple and to the point, delighting diners with authentic Indian food.