Baazi
Image Credits: Baazi NYC/Instagram
Located on the Upper West Side, the two-storied Baazi focusses on heirloom recipes from northern and southern India, with a modern flourish. Try their take on the Goan Cafreal with Cornish hen flavoured with coriander and mint or the paneer ke sholay – raisin stuffed cottage cheese and roasted in a tandoor.
Location: 2588 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Junoon
Known for its upscale ambiance and modern Indian cuisine, Junoon has risen to fame for the sheer simplicity and brilliance in the way they present Indian food. With a contemporary take that uses old-school ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, one must definitely order the Butter Garlic Pepper Prawns with fresh baked pao for the table. Don’t forget to try their Shahi Tukda, to conclude the meal, with Junoon’s special French toast-like twist.
Location: 19 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010
Temple Canteen
Image Credits: SeeNewYork.nyc
Located in the basement of a Ganesh temple in Flushing, the restaurant established in 1993 serves up an all-vegetarian South Indian fare. Pick from multiple varieties of idlis, dosas and uttapams, or get straight to the main course with delicious vegetable stews and rice preparations.
Location: 09 Holly Ave No 143, Queens, NY 11355
Vatan
With a set-up designed to resemble an Indian village, the rustic-looking, all-you-can-eat Vatan is famous for serving up some amazing Gujrati fare. Immerse yourself in the experiential dining by reserving a table on the balcony, beneath the banyan tree or a cosy nook inside a small building. Enjoy the authentic Gujarati thali but make sure to save some space for shrikhand – a creamy, yoghurt-based dessert flavoured with saffron and cardamom.
Location: 409 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016
Dhamaka
Offering a contemporary take on Indian street food in a vibrant setting, is ‘unapologetically Indian’ in every way. Known to be a casual dining place serving up delicious Indian dishes like Dal Panchmel, Lasooni Lobster and Chapli Kebab. They also offer a ‘Hunting Meal’ that consists of game meat like rabbit. Can’t seem to steal time off on a weekday? Check out their weekend brunches.
Location: 119 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002
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Saravana Bhavan
Yes, the popular chain of South Indian restaurants that originated in Chennai, also finds a couple of homes in the bustling NYC. With a menu focussed on vegetarian South Indian dishes, expect to be waiting to get a table so you can order masala dosas, appam and stew, and polish off the meal with a steaming cup of strong filter coffee.
Location: 81 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016
GupShup
Combining traditional flavours with modern presentation and a stylish atmosphere, GupShup offers luxurious recipes in elaborate settings. A culmination of Indian foundations and Western influences, GupShup is known to blend both beautifully and serve up dishes like Smoked Salmon Puchkas, Jackfruit Tacos and regional delicacies like the Kerala-style beef fry.
Location: 115 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003
Cardamom
Craving the susegado vibes of Goa along with some prawn curry and rice for lunch? Head to Cardamom in Sunnyside, for the most delicious red wine-braised pork, lamb xacuti and shrimp caldin. If this isn’t something that you’re particularly keen on trying, the restaurant also has a menu featuring some amazing pan-Indian dishes.
Location: 43-45 43rd Street, Queens Blvd, Queens, NY 11104
Pakvaan
If greasy Indian grub after a long night out or the morning after, is what you crave, enjoy everything from batata wada to chhole-bhature, at this old-school dining room. From Bombay street food fare like dabelis to freshly unmoulded malai kulfi on a stick, the restaurant is perfect for small bites or meals that are nostalgic in every way possible.
Location: 1700, Oak Tree Road Sugar Tree Plaza # 9 & 10, Edison, NJ 08820
Indian Accent
What started off in Delhi as chef Manish Mehrotra’s ode to Indian food, has also arrived in New York to create a ripple in the Indian food scene. Enjoy all the Indian Accent classics like the Daulat ki chaat, saag tart with tossed veggies and the incredibly flaky chur chur paratha.
Location: 123 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019