The 8 best Indian restaurants In Perth

It’s no secret that Northbridge’s 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.

Coming through hot and spicy over in the timelessly trendy Fremantle is Lions and Tigers. Matching the locale’s good vibrations, Lions and Tigers plate 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.

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. 

Time and time again, Beaufort Street reels in the crowds for its diverse hospitality scene, and Chakra Restaurant on the Inglewood side of things is no exception. The family-run corner haunt 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?

You’ve probably whizzed past Balti Indian Restaurant countless times along your St George’s Terrace travels. And while the facade appears relatively nonchalant, it’s not until you step inside the eating house that it becomes memorable, aka neon-lit. Balti’s dramatic interior pairs well in some sense with its dramatically good curries, hailing from both the north and south of India. The super spicy chicken Chettinad is a South Indian crowd-favourite, while the masala soya chaap is a new-wave dish that utilises a vegan meat of sorts. And if your sweet tooth is nagging you for a lil’ something, Balti’s gulab jamun is irresistible – a traditional dessert of deep-fried, dense dough that’s doused in both rosewater and sugar syrup. One simply isn’t enough!

East Victoria Park has transformed into an absolute mixed bag of beans – a thriving dining destination where cuisines collide and hungry stomachs rumble for things a little nicey and a little spicy, too. No-frills by nature, Spicy Affair Indian Restaurant can only be described with a likeness to the inside of a mandarin – that being excessively orange – yet remains a mainstay among locals and those from afar. As for Spicy Affair’s menu, expect humble cooking with tradition at the forefront of its ethos – take the chicken changezi (aromatic tomato curry), for example – a dish with 14th-century beginnings. Equally inviting staples include goat madras, chicken jhalfrezi, chickpea masala, and an oh-so-moreish dal makhani. Pack a tipple to pair and you’re in for an indubitably finger-licking feast – a spicy affair, some may say.

As you may have already guessed, Dosa Xpress specialise in dosa – a savoury crepe of sorts hailing from South India, awaiting your hunger pains in South Perth. As well as dosa-lovers, this one goes out to the vegetarians and vegans of Perth – Dosa Xpress is a plant-based haven with gluten-free and organics on their mind. The eatery’s moral code is to create “good food that just happens to be meat-free”, and that, they have achieved. A whopping 26 dosa are up for grabs, ranging from traditional to cross-cultural, namely the cashew masala dosa and the American chop suey (stir-fried meat and veggie dish) dosa, respectively. And if dinner for you isn’t truly complete without a sweet treat, Dosa Xpress is at your service with those ice cream rolls that went viral a few years back – you’ll know them when you see them.

This long-standing Subiaco haunt has well and truly stood the test of time and holds a special place in the heart of many a Subi-dweller. With a fresh lick of paint and a few touch-ups here and there, Chutney Mary’s Indian Restaurant has transformed into a bit of a destination, if elevated authentic fare is on your dining bingo card. The tandoori fish tikka melts in the mouth, the chicken palak with spinach, ginger and curry leaf is a sensation, while the bhindi do pyaza of okra is a satisfying affair. Top it all off with a Bollywood martini which hints at mango notes, and you’ve got yourself a winner-winner tikka dinner.