Best of Philly

Best Indian Restaurant

2022 Best Indian Restaurant

Mallu Cafe

In addition to offering one of our favorite biryanis, this strip-mall spot in the Far Northeast has all sorts of South Indian menu items that are hard to find elsewhere in Philly: aromatic rabbit fry, Kerala-style crab roast, and the fiery tamarind and ginger curry. Bonus: You can get your eyebrows threaded next door and pick up Indian groceries two doors down. Win-win. Read More »

10181 Verree Road, Philadelphia, PA Website

2019 Best Indian Restaurant

Amma’s South Indian Cuisine

South Indian cuisine is a rarity in the middle of Philly, which you’ll realize is ridiculous after you taste the ginger and turmeric spikes of the lamb Chettinad, the aloo bonda and the mango lassi. Read More »

1518 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-563-2917 | Website

2018 Best Indian Restaurant

Indian Hut

Sometimes we try to imagine a Philadelphia with a legitimately diverse Indian scene – one that doesn’t just serve North Indian dishes, but that has the mysore masala dosas, Indo-Chinese specialties, Chettinad curries of South India – and beyond. But then we remember, we just have to drive to Exton. Read More »

260 Pottstown Pike, Exton, PA | 610-363-9500 | Website

2017 Best Indian

Devi

There’s more to Indian food than tandoori chicken and mango lassis, as you’ll discover at this strip-mall spot that highlights Southern Indian cuisine. It’s vegetarian, but with complex curries, lentil dal vada donuts and dosas, no one will miss the meat. Bring the kids—they’ll get a kick out of the paper dosas, which are, quite literally, twice as big as they are. Read More »

151 West Lincoln Highway, Exton, PA | 610-594-9250 | Website

2016 Best Indian Restaurant

Chaat and Chai

You know the city has changed when the best Indian food is coming out of a cheery, colorful place around the corner from the Melrose Diner. The menu's not huge, but that's just fine. The namesake chaats (Indian street snacks) and chais (Indian teas) make for a perfect, well, afternoon tea. For a more substantial meal, reach for the curry bowls. Read More »

1532 Snyder Avenue, Philadelphia, PA | 215-271-1253 | Website

2015 Best Indian Restaurant

Saffron

While local Indian mini-chain Tiffin has locations in Bryn Mawr and Wynnewood, more than a few Main Liners prefer this stand-up BYO run by a former Tiffin chef -- and we agree. In addition to killer curries and sinus-singeing vindaloos, the menu includes South Indian specialties like idli sambar (a frequent special) and dosa masala, which is all-you-can-eat on the weekends. And you can eat a lot of dosas, trust us. Read More »

145 Montgomery Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA | 484-278-4112

2014 Best Indian Restaurant

Kabob & Grill

Like many of the best ethnic restaurants, it doesn't look like much from the outside and yet this newcomer has quickly become an area favorite. The highly spiced biryanis, vindaloos and curries will both clear your sinuses and please your palette, and you'll find rare-in-Philly dosa, chaat and kadai. Read More »

107 East County Line Road, Ardmore, PA | 484-417-6672 | Website

2013 Best Indian Restaurant

New Azaad

It may not look like much (and really, it doesnt), but after several meals consumed both in the restaurant and on the go, weve tried nearly every item on the menu and can confidently report that no other traditional Indian restaurant in the region even comes close. From the goat and chicken curries to the papdi chaat to the extensive sweets case (after all, theres a world beyond gulab jamun), you simply cant go wrong here. And its cheaper than Ti_ffin! Just get there now and thank us later. Read More »

6443 Castor Avenue, Philadelphia, PA | 215-288-5204 | Website

2012 Best Indian Restaurant

Tashan

The best thing to happen to Philly Indian food since Tiffin-but for the hundredth time: Tashan is not Tiffin. The reference points range from Nagaland to the Andaman Islands in chef Sylva Senat's deliciously compelling take on post-curry Indian cuisine. Read More »

777 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-687-2170 | Website

2010 Best Indian Restaurant

Saffron Indian Kitchen

The layers of flavors at this Bala BYO take our Indian favorites up a notch, starting with the rice: Light, fluffy, and infused with the restaurant's namesake spice, it's the perfect starchy building block to a delicious meal. Don't miss the saag paneer, in which the brilliantly spiced spinach what is that smoky note? shines (rather than the cream, for a change), or the tandoori-kissed lamb cubes in the house special boti kebab. Read More »

145 Montgomery Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA | 484-278-4112 | Website