Top Five Indian Restaurants in New York City for Regional Cuisine

It’s hard to overstate the impact that the hospitality group Unapologetic Foods has had on New York’s dining scene—and in particular, its Indian food scene. Although it wasn’t their first restaurant, when Dhamaka opened in early 2021, it was clear something exciting was happening with Indian cuisine in the city, and the era of modern Indian food began.

It was quickly followed by Semma at the end of that year, opening inside the space of their first restaurant, Rahi, and their status was cemented as the trio responsible for bringing real Indian food to New Yorkers. Chef Vijay Kumar also won Best Chef: New York State at the 2025 James Beard Awards.

I love Semma because the food is spicy, has ingredients I’d never heard of before living in India, and it doesn’t apologize for it (hence the hospitality group’s very apt name). I slightly prefer it over Dhamaka because South Indian food is my favorite type of Indian cuisine, and they have a gunpowder dosa on the menu that’s out of this world. It’s also cool, modern, and a little bit funky inside—another first for an Indian restaurant in New York, which had previously relied on Himalayan-hippie-inspired design (think lots of tapestries and incense), or a classic fine dining setting like Tamarind or Tabla (RIP).

When Michelin-starred chef (and MasterChef India star) Vikas Khanna returned to New York after leaving Junoon to open restaurants in Dubai, I eagerly awaited his return.

At Bungalow in the East Village, where he partnered with Jimmy Rivzi of Gupshup, the menu honors Khanna’s family and history. While it doesn’t focus on one specific region, it journeys through all 28 states as Khanna puts his signature spin on everything, resulting in unique yet authentic dishes.

A few of my favorites are the Smoked Sweet Potato Chaat with a green mango sauce, Yogurt Kabab covered in crunchy kataifi, and the black peppery Rajasthani Pulled Lamb. The vibe here is that of a welcoming clubhouse, and it feels good to belong.

This seasonal Indian spot opened in the same location as a previous favorite of mine, Sona, which closed in early 2024, and co-owner Maneesh Goyal is involved once again.

This time, he teamed up with chef Chetan Shetty, who previously cooked at Indian Accent in New York and New Delhi and led the kitchen at Rania in Washington, D.C., earning a Michelin star there in 2023.

At Passerine, he uses his mother’s spice blends, which she grinds at home in Pune, India, and ships over. These blends season market-fresh ingredients to create dishes such as the dry-aged Kolhapuri lamb tartare, a scallion uttapam, and a channa masala panisse with tomato tukku. A vegetarian and non-vegetarian tasting menu are also offered in the stylish dining room.

No list of my favorite Indian restaurants in New York City is complete without this longtime favorite.

Located in the basement of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh in Flushing, Queens, this is where you’ll find Indians and their families congregating over an array of dosas, uttapams, cups of chai and lassi, and other casual South Indian fare.

It’s cheap, it’s fast, it’s delicious—and it’s about as close as it gets in New York to middle-class life in India.

While upscale Indian food had always been somewhat successful in New York City—think Tabla, Junoon, and Tamarind—plenty of things got lost in translation, if you will. Not so at Indian Accent, a fine dining establishment originally from New Delhi, which also has a location in Mumbai.

Its only other outpost is here in New York, and this is where I go when I feel like dressing up and being a little formal as I indulge in the spices and textures of modern Indian cuisine.

They have an excellent tasting menu and even offer brunch with pao bhaji (one of my husband’s favorite snacks) and Parsi-style fried eggs atop shredded potatoes.