The 8 best Indian restaurants in Darwin

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. 

Depending on where you are in India, the cuisine changes drastically. Saffron restaurant in Parap 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. 

Restaurant locations in Darwin don’t get much better than Exotic North Indian Cuisine, set overlooking the Cullen Bay Marina. With waterfront views, a 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. 

Okay, okay. We know Nirvana restaurant is technically an Indian/Malay/Thai fusion, but the Indian flavours on the menu make it worthy of a spot on this list. Nirvana is a local treasure for three reasons: the building itself survived Cyclone Tracy, the venue hosts epic jam nights, and the food is sensational. Start with the tandoori chicken pieces and the trio of dips (yoghurt raita, mango chutney and satay, with papadums and roti), follow that with a classic lamb korma curry, and finish the night with a whisky at the Smoke and Oak cocktail bar. Thank us later. 

Authentic is an overused word when it comes to Indian food because what’s authentic in one region differs so wildly. Nevertheless, if you’re after an “authentic” experience, Memories of India has you covered. Raj Ghotra opened the Darwin restaurant in 2014, and it was such a big hit he opened a Melbourne branch a few years later. (It’s not often Melbourne follows Darwin, so we’re particularly proud of having the OG venue). The authenticity comes from the well-experienced chefs, as well as the traditional brass urns and specially made large tandoor ovens.

Down at Stokes Hill Wharf, past the Convention Centre and tucked away a corner, you’ll find a little gem: Incredible India. The restaurant (which also has a Palmerston venue) has all your most-loved dishes: beef vindaloo (extra hot), aloo gobhi (vegetarian) and goat masala (just delicious). The thing that sets Incredible India apart though is its location. Stokes Hill Wharf, which has a number of eateries and alfresco tables, is such a special spot to watch the sunset and/or a storm roll in. 

After a couple of beverages at Monsoon’s Bar and Grill and a dabble of karaoke at Six Tanks Brewery, there’s no better sight than the glowing bain-marie of Darwin Tandoor. Located just down the road on the Mitchell Street nightlife strip, this hole-in-the-wall is popular amongst downtown revellers and casual diners alike. Read: it’s great for people-watching. The biryani, dhal and curries can be taken away or eaten at the tables in the alleyway. This is no-fuss Indian comfort food at its comfiest. 

In the northern suburbs, Taj Curry is a shining star. The Nightcliff eatery is an intimate spot, perfect for a casual dinner out or wholesome takeaway on the couch. The menu is a blend of Indian and Nepalese flavours, meaning biryani and momo. Truly the best of both worlds. Better yet, there’s a Saturday brunch buffet to get your fix of both.