25 must-try Indian restaurants in Australia

When chef Jimmy Shu opened the doors of Hanuman in 1992, an empire was born. The restaurant has been a staple of Darwin’s foodie scene for three decades, and made its mark on the Red Centre when Hanuman Alice Springs opened in 2001. This is a restaurant you recommend to visiting friends, a place to celebrate special occasions, and somewhere to impress a date. Inside, the lighting is moody and the styling is ornate. Outside, the courtyard is flush with greenery and open to the breeze. No matter where you’re seated, the menu is exceptional. The beauty of Hanuman – now and for the last 30 years – is its mix of traditional dishes done in innovative ways. There’s the barramundi meen moolie that acclaimed food critic Melissa Leong raves about, and the eggplant pacchadi that we dream about. Follow our lead and find your new favourite dish at Hanuman. 

A red-hot addition to Adelaide’s Indian food scene in 2021, Daughter in Law has quickly climbed the ranks to become one of the best. Although the Rundle Street eatery embraces an “inauthentic” label, it doesn’t fail to plate up big bold flavours in its equally as bold, neon-lit dining room. New-wave eats are born from combining both Australian and Asian ingredients, with the menu sectioned into ‘from the streets’, ‘from the pots’ and ‘from the tandoor’. Get stuck into the Mumbai spring rolls, the IFC aka Indian fried chicken, or perhaps the vegetarian truffle biryani pie. Inventive mocktails and cocktails are all the rage at Daughter in Law, too, including the Dirty Lassi with plantation pineapple rum, mango lassi, coconut and lime. 

If we had wings, we’d fly straight to Sydney's Flyover Fritterie for their dosa potato jaffles, crunchy pakoras (fritters) and spicy chai tea. This Indian street food eatery upgraded from its hole-in-the-wall CBD shop to a two-storey corner restaurant on Redfern’s main drag. The name, Flyover Fritter, is a tribute to the humble food stands under the overpasses (flyovers) of bustling Indian cities where each cart specialises in one type of street food.

When it comes to Indian institutions, Jaipur Palace in Wellington Point reigns supreme. This gem of a restaurant, one of Brisbane’s oldest, has been loved by locals since husband-and-wife team Dharminder (David as he’s known to regulars) and Sheena opened it in 1998. Step inside and you'll be whisked away to the city of Jaipur, with vibrant artworks, bright orange tablecloths and charming trinkets setting the scene. This warmth and energy extend to the alfresco footpath seating, where you can enjoy a romantic night under the twinkling fairy lights. Deciding what to order at Jaipur Palance is no easy feat. Start your royal feast with spiced potato samosas and tandoori drumsticks, then fill the table with signature curries, like the chicken tikka masala, chilli prawn goa or butter paneer. Mop it up with one of 13 specialty naan breads on offer, including cheese and chilli, peshwari or gluten-free garlic. 

Coming through hot and spicy over in the timelessly trendy Perth suburb of Fremantle is Lions and Tigers. Matching the locale’s good vibrations, this restaurant plates up modern Indian cuisine in an up-market dining room adorned with funky artwork and intriguing decor. The seasonally-changing menu is also a treat for the eyeballs, bursting with ultra-fresh hues of green, red, and yellow, aside a drinks list that ignites an inquisitive flame irresistible to the taste buds. Chow down on kingfish crudo with lemongrass laksa and sesame pickled cucumber, lamb rendang samosas, masala octopus with pickled shimeji mushrooms, and sourdough naan. Wash it all down with Garage Project’s pickle beer – it’s a winning combo.

For those devoted to life ‘between-the-bread’, this fusion Indian diner is a maximalist’s dream come true. With locations in Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney, the Chatkazz kitchen is teamed with seasoned technicians specialising in dal doughnuts, samosa stuffed bread rolls, chutney-dipping toasties, Szechuan vegetable Indo-Chinese wraps, and seven different flavours of paratha. Bread vessels are the vehicles that deliver rebellious flavours, serving Indian classics with a healthy spoonful of defiance. Arriving at the table beside you is a sizzling pan of drenched chips topped with a caramelised paneer stir-fry – is it so surprising then that the menu reads ‘Mumbai Roadside Special’?

For modern Indian cuisine with a healthy twist, head straight to It’s Mirchi in Paddington, Brisbane. The passionate team, led by head chef Urvashi, pride themselves on their fresh and certified organic Indian cuisine, catering to vegan, gluten-free, nut-free and sugar-free diets. Tell the friendly staff what you are after and they'll be able to point you in the right direction, or peruse the menu and choose from the curries and healthy bowl options. Stand-out dishes include the crisped-to-perfection onion bhajis, the vegan green kofta curry, and the creamy warmth of the chicken tikka masala. 

If you’re looking for traditional Indian fare, you won’t find it at Don’t Tell Aunty in Sydney. You will find a bit of fun though, and some decent-enough food, including ‘unauthentic butter chicken’ and Aussie lamb chops with a tangy eggplant chutney. Some dishes err on the side of being too sweet for us, but the curries still stand tall, each with a great depth of flavour. Order the set menu and enjoy the showstopping curry platter. And if you’re celebrating a birthday, prepare to be serenaded by 50 Cent.

Sauma is highly regarded amongst spice seekers – never failing to get a mention as one of the best Indian restaurants in Perth. The contemporary eatery serves up traditional street food with an elevated flair, alongside inventive cocktails with a kick, craft beers and Western Australian-focused wines. The tapas-style menu is designed for sharing, but by all means dig right in solo upon the tandoor-roasted trout tikka, chargrilled chilli squid, the ever-so comforting butter chicken or the eggplant bharta (smoky mashed eggplant curry). Dine streetside with a pani puri shot in hand and relish the Northbridge commotion.

Hidden away in a 100-year-old terrace in Hobart's Battery Point, Magic Curries is an ode to north Indian and Punjabi-inspired fare. Everything here is made from scratch and you can dial the spice level up or down depending on how daring you feel. The mango chicken – mild, slightly sweet and creamy – is Magic Curries’ delicacy, and for good reason. The ginger lamb cutlets are marinated overnight in yoghurt and spices and cooked to perfection in the clay tandoor oven. A glass of crisp Frogmore Creek chardonnay is a great accompaniment to the restaurant’s wholesome selection of curries. 

Depending on where you are in India, the cuisine changes drastically. Saffron restaurant in Darwin offers diners a taste of India from the north to the south. Chef Selvam Kandasamy was born in Tamil and learned to blend spices in his grandmother’s kitchen. Those spices are the backbone of his menu at Saffron, including prawn pepper masala (with local banana prawns), snake beans poriyal (with beans from Humpty Doo), and pumpkin kara kari (with Coolalinga pumpkin). As you may have noticed, chef Sel is passionate about local produce and uses Territory ingredients to showcase his native cuisine. 

Namaste India is a North Perth institution, and you best head in on an empty stomach – they’ve got the goods. The contemporary dining room is bright and inviting, but the pretty plates are the main event – the eggplant curry is even served in an eggplant-shaped bowl – how’s that for a bit of fun? Vegan options are clearly labeled and the remainder of the menu is descriptive and hefty too. The Goan fish curry with fennel-y flavours is darn delish, the lamb shank curry is hearty, and the savoury Kashmiri naan stuffed with dried fruits is an adventure for the taste buds. 

When labourers arrived in Fiji during the early 20th century, so did the tropical adaptation of Indian cuisine to our plates. Operating for 29 years in Canberra, this family-run venue is an album of comforting and communal dishes that owners Mini Gaundar, Manni Gounder and Parsu Ram enjoyed back home. Coconut becomes the chorus of meals at Rama’s, with broken flakes of ling, cubes of lamb or beef, and jammy pumpkin stewed with astringent tomatoes, paprika and fresh coriander, to finally be softened with a coating of coconut milk. Though it is known for this region to have a milder palette, the fan-favourites still sing with peppery praise – try their radiant signature Fijian pork curry alongside an inseparable glass of mango lassi.

Brendan King says his nanna never cooked while he was growing up, and instead always remembers his grandpa in the kitchen, preparing spiced tandoori wings and fiery pork vindaloo. Sydney's late-night Indian diner Derrel’s is named after King’s grandpa, and is a nostalgic ode to his food and the dishes that King loves to cook and eat himself. The colourful eatery is open until 2am on the weekends. Swing by for curry plates loaded with rice, roti, lime, onion and chutneys; tandoori chicken wings made from King’s grandpa’s recipe; and a “chip putty” with butter chicken gravy. Yum.

Restaurant locations in Darwin don’t get much better than Exotic North Indian Cuisine, set overlooking the Cullen Bay Marina. With waterfront views, relaxed energy and a goat curry worth writing home about, this restaurant is a must-visit. The owners hail from Punjab, hence the ‘north’ in Exotic North Indian Cuisine. The chef’s special karahi (thick curry) is an original Punjabi dish that will transport you to North India without physically leaving the Top End. All of the dishes are perfectly paired with naan, freshly baked in the tandoor oven, including a rich cheese and spinach naan, and a sweet peshwari naan stuffed with nuts and dried fruit. 

Opened in 2019 in Canberra, this culinary venture is a true husband-and-wife affair. Seasonality and spice, depth and diversity are the building blocks of chef Ranjit Singh and Suman Kaur’s sensory menu, with crowd-favourites including their papdi chaat of rich fried wafers and cool-spiced yoghurt, an electrifying dal tadka made with golden aromatics, and their signature lamb biryani. Frequented in festive seasons by locals for their gulab jamun (fried and syrup-soaked doughnuts) and kulfi (Indian ice cream), comfort and community are assured to be found with every spice-laced bite of Canberran-Indian cuisine. 

Since its 1980 inception, Jasmin Indian Restaurant has served as a central hub in Adelaide for dining amidst the aromas of traditional North Indian fare. Spice blends perfume across Hindmarsh Square five days a week, enticing passersby to follow their nose into the softly lit restaurant. While tradition is at the forefront of Jasmin’s ethos, the founding family – the Singh-Sandhu’s – believe refining classics is key to their success, backed by their slew of awards over the years. Don’t go past the lamb tandoori, eggplant curry, beef vindaloo or the crowd-favourite butter chicken – they’ve nailed each dish down to a tee. 

This family-run corner haunt in Perth is relatively clean-cut and dishes out both familiar and not-so-familiar fare from across the entirety of India. Chakra puts in the work when it comes to plating aesthetics while sticking to authentic flavour profiles. Tuck into the chicken biryani, beef vindaloo and lamb rogan josh, or opt for a bite from the thoughtful vegan menu with the likes of masala ‘chicken’ drumsticks and butter tofu. They even offer a selection of vegan and gluten-free naans – ‘cheese’ and garlic, anyone?

Mother India excels in bringing bold flavours to the table with its take on classic Indian dishes. Located in North Hobart on Elizabeth Street’s multicultural food strip, this Hobart staple offers an extensive menu with plenty of vegan options. If you’ve got a thing for biryani, you’ve come to the right place. Their flavour-packed long-grain rice is infused with saffron and served with raita. Feeling adventurous? Try Goa’s speciality lamb vindaloo (best served with a non-alc nimbu pani, the house-made lemonade) and see if you can handle the heat. Not wanting to leave the couch? Order in for the mother of all Indian feasts delivered straight to your doorstep. 

Sydney locals know Sketch Manly well. That’s because for close to eight years they’ve been hitting up 19 Pittwater Road for their morning coffee and spiced eggs, and swinging back at night for craft beer, natural wines and seriously good curries. Think: slow-cooked brisket curry with garlic, ginger, tomato and fresh spinach; a rich, complex and not-too-sweet butter chicken curry; and marinated eggplant with turmeric tomato masala. The confit garlic roti is bang on, too.