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 downtown Minneapolis spot near US Bank Stadium, run by the family of chef Joginder Cheema (his father co-founded Taste of India). North Indian classics done with serious depth, a flatbread program that holds up, and a bar that takes the cocktail half of the name seriously. Spice levels run 1 to 6.
Read full entry →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.
Read full entry →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.
Read full entry →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.
Read full entry →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.
Read full entry →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.
Read full entry →A Northeast institution since 2010, just across the river, doing Nepali and Tibetan alongside the Indian menu. The momos are the reason to come, the goat curry is the reason to come back, and the lunch is one of the better-value sit-down meals in the neighborhood.
Read full entry →A South Minneapolis arrival in the old Q Fanatic space on Nicollet, and one of the more serious Hyderabadi kitchens the city has had. The slow-cooked biryani is the headline, the tandoori specialties hold up, and the house chutneys are made fresh daily. Racket called it an elite addition to the south side.
Read full entry →The Northeast outpost of a South Indian kitchen built around the dosa: paper-thin, crisp, and griddled to order in a long list of varieties. The idli and the South Indian thali round out a menu that fills a real gap in this part of town. Open late.
Read full entry →If we missed your spot, tell us. Your pick joins a running tally of reader recommendations. We read every submission and work the strongest ones into the list. We do not publish your name or email.