The Best Indian Restaurants in and Around Boston

Zuzu Momo

Yes, we’re sending you on a schlepp to Everett for Nepali and Indian food, and probably the best momo in the greater Boston area. The “funky fusion” (their term) menu is heavy on street-style food, like samosa, pakora, Kathmandu-style chow mein, and tandoori masala wings. Of course, there is a robust assortment of momo, including steamed and fried, marinated in special sauces, and even a ramen momo. The restaurant is always a great time, and check their social media for live music and other happenings.

Guru the Caterer

Since 2004, Guru has been serving South Indian takeout and catering out of a small space in Somerville. While there is some seating, you’re better off getting its biryanis and curries to-go. The savory goat curry, fragrant with ginger, garlic, onion, and tomatoes, is a must, as are any of the lamb, goat, and chicken biryani dishes. The restaurant offers nice combo meals with your choice of entree, plus rice and naan.

Dosa N Curry

Dosa N Curry in Somerville offers a fully vegetarian menu with many options. Try the medhu vada, crispy lentil doughnuts with a hint of spice, or enjoy one of the savory dosas. The Madras cheese dosa is a kid-pleasing favorite, and the lunch thali offers a variety of dishes, including curries, rice, salad, and dessert. Next door, sibling restaurant Veggie Crust serves vegetable pizzas and Indian fusion options like pav bhaji pizza (topped with spiced mashed veggies) and Indo-Chinese dishes like vegetable chile garlic noodles.

Punjabi Dhaba

Long-standing Punjabi Dhaba is an Inman Square favorite for North Indian food. Everything here is good, but the tandoori chicken and vegetable korma are must-orders. Often bustling, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, for casual sit-down or takeout meals.

The Maharaja

The Maharaja is basically an institution overlooking Harvard Square and has been a common spot for students for years. It serves tandoori dishes and offers an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet stocked with vegetarian and non-vegetarian North Indian dishes. The buffet includes items like vegetable pakora, saag paneer, dal makhani, and naan. Meat options include chicken tikka masala, kadhai lamb, and tandoori chicken. End your meal with sweet, syrupy gulab jamun paired with a hot cup of chai.

Chulo Restaurant & Bar

Chulo Restaurant & Bar in Watertown features a mix of Nepali, Indian, and Indo-Chinese fusion cuisine. The menu includes Indo-Chinese dishes like chix chow mein and paneer chow mein, which blend Chinese techniques with Indian spices. Nepali options such as vegetarian chili momos are also offered. For something hearty, the goat curry is a standout.

Singh's Dhaba

The Singh family has a mini restaurant empire in the Boston area that also includes the Kebab Factory in Somerville and Singh’s Cafe in Wellesley. A specialty at Singh’s Daba is its thali, which means “plate” in Hindi. A typical thali includes small portions of several curries, rice, dal, chapati, pickles, raita, and sometimes a dessert. It is designed to provide a balance of flavors — spicy, sweet, sour, and salty — offering a little bit of everything in every bite.

Depth N Green

Once a health-focused food and beverage purveyor at the Kendall Square Farmers Market, Depth ‘N’ Green is now a full cafe that specializes in all-natural Indian cuisine. Here, you can savor large flatbreads stuffed with spiced potatoes, chicken, and vegetarian bowls, plus a butter paneer or chicken-stuffed croissant. All the dishes are prepared without artificial ingredients, using only ghee, butter, or olive oil. Pick up premium teas and spices, too.

Madras Dosa Co.

Madras Dosa Co., which has locations in the Seaport and Harvard Square, specializes in customizable dosas made from fermented rice and urad dal batter, which creates a crispy exterior and soft interior. You can choose from options like the classic plain dosa, masala dosa with spiced potatoes, or the thinner, crispier paper dosa, with sides such as sambar, coconut chutney, and ginger chutney. The fillings range from traditional potato and onion to more creative options like chips, fruit, chocolate chips, and Nutella. The same team is also behind downtown’s takeaway spot Vaanga, where you can find quirky dishes like samosa burgers and “not the boring” idli with coconut chutney.

Mirchi Nation

Mirchi Nation Kitchen has locations in Brookline, Quincy, and Marlborough, serving both North and South Indian cuisine. The dosas are popular, but the uttapams, thick savory pancakes with crispy edges, are the can’t-miss order. The lamb keema dosa, a dosa filled with minced lamb and spices, is a rich, flavorful must. The restaurant also offers drinks like lassi, Thums Up (India’s spicy cola), and chikoo shakes made from the sweet, caramel-like chikoo fruit (also known as sapodilla).

Wow Tikka

Wow Tikka in Fenway offers a modern take on classic Indian cuisine, featuring options like the naan kati roll, a popular Indian street food made by wrapping marinated meat or veggies in soft naan, topped with fresh veggies and flavorful chutneys. The non-traditional desi burrito, a fusion dish that combines Indian flavors with a burrito-style wrap, is a great choice, too. The restaurant also offers build-your-own bowls.

Vaisakhi Indian Kitchen

Nestled in Brighton, this family-run restaurant offers a variety of gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options. Vaisakhi is a lively, meaningful festival celebrated in Northern India, especially in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Like the festival, this restaurant offers a variety of flavorful dishes. Find all the North Indian stars here, from crispy samosas and pakoras (fritters) to aromatic biryanis, rich curries, and so much more.

Shanti Restaurant

For 25 years, Shanti has been a favorite spot in Dorchester for fluffy and garlicky naan, lamb tikka masala, aloo gobi, butter chicken, all washed down with a mango lassi. The bustling spot is open for lunch, dinner, and takeout. The family-owned restaurant also has a Roslindale location, which we also recommend.

Tikki Masala

Jamaica Plain’s Tikki Masala is a tasty neighborhood go-to for pan-fried shrimp tossed with mango chutney and South Indian dosas, or try one of the convenient dinner-for-two combos if you don’t want to make any decisions.

Himalayan Bistro

If you’re looking for something different, visit this West Roxbury restaurant where both Nepali and Indian options are available, offering a variety of dishes to choose from. Don’t miss the Nepalese momos, tender dumplings filled with either juicy meat or fresh veggies. The saffron lamb curry is a rich dish also worth trying.