The Twin Cities Indian restaurant scene reaches across regions: Hyderabadi biryani, South Indian dosas, Punjabi tandoor, Lao-Indian crossover. The best spots are spread across the metro and especially the western suburbs. This list is a starting point and we know we are missing some. If a favorite is not here, send it to us.
A small Twin Cities chain doing some of the best contemporary North Indian in the metro. The butter chicken and the lamb vindaloo are reliable orders, and the lunch buffet at the Edina location is one of the best deals in town for the quality.
A specialty spot focused on Hyderabadi-style dum biryani, with the long-grain basmati cooked together with marinated meat under sealed dough. The chicken biryani is the order. Go hungry.
A casual South Indian and biryani spot that draws a serious crowd at lunch and dinner. The dosas are excellent, the chicken 65 is the right starter, and the biryani is competitive with anything in the metro.
A long-running Brooklyn Park institution doing classic North Indian with a serious tandoor program. The lamb seekh kebab is the order, the naan comes out blistered and right, and the staff treats you like family by your second visit.
A St. Paul classic doing reliable North Indian for decades. The butter chicken is what people order and the lunch buffet is genuinely solid. A safe-bet introduction for anyone new to Indian food in the Twin Cities.
A small St. Paul restaurant that delivers exactly what the name suggests. The chicken tikka masala and the saag paneer are reliable, the breads are made to order, and the room is small enough to feel personal.
A St. Paul tandoor specialist with a menu built around the clay oven. The bread program is the standout, the kebabs are properly charred, and the goat curry is worth ordering on a cold night.
A west-metro favorite for the lunch buffet, which rotates broadly across regions and is consistently fresh. The dinner menu is quieter but the appetizer plates and the chettinad chicken are worth ordering.