Best Restaurants in India 2026

Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

Delhi's most famous culinary export — tender tandoor-cooked chicken in a rich tomato-cream-butter sauce. Invented at Moti Mahal restaurant in Old Delhi in the 1950s by Kundan Lal Gujral.

Where to try: Moti Mahal Delux Restaurants (original), any North Indian restaurant nationwide

Price: $8-20

Masala Dosa

South India's most iconic dish — a crispy fermented rice and lentil crepe filled with spiced potato, served with coconut chutney and sambar. Breakfast staple from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Where to try: MTR (Bangalore), Saravana Bhavan (Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai), any South Indian restaurant

Price: $2-6

Hyderabadi Biryani

Fragrant slow-cooked rice layered with marinated meat, saffron, fried onions, and whole spices in the dum (sealed pot) method. The definitive biryani that has spawned countless regional variations.

Where to try: Bawarchi Restaurant Hyderabad, Paradise Restaurant Hyderabad, biryani specialists nationwide

Price: $4-15

Pani Puri / Golgappa

India's most beloved street food — hollow crispy semolina spheres filled with spiced potato and chickpeas, dunked in tangy tamarind and mint water. Each region has its own version.

Where to try: Street vendors nationwide; Elco Market Mumbai, street stalls around Chandni Chowk Delhi

Price: $0.50-2

Dal Makhani

Black lentils slow-cooked overnight with cream and butter until they develop an impossibly rich, velvety texture. The definitive Punjabi restaurant dish eaten with tandoor roti.

Where to try: Bukhara ITC Maurya (New Delhi), Punjabi restaurants nationwide

Price: $5-15

Fish Molee (Kerala)

A delicate Kerala Christian curry of white fish simmered in fresh coconut milk with green chillies, ginger, and turmeric. Lighter than most Indian curries, showcasing Kerala's coconut-forward cooking style.

Where to try: Fort Kochi seafood restaurants, Malabar Palace Kozhikode, Kerala specialty restaurants

Price: $6-15

Bukhara

Legendary restaurant at ITC Maurya serving rustic North-West Frontier cuisine. Famous for its dal bukhara and tandoori dishes, frequented by world leaders and celebrities since 1978.

ITC Maurya, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi 110021

Karim's

Historic restaurant established in 1913 near Jama Masjid, famous for its mutton dishes and authentic Mughlai flavors. A must-visit for traditional Delhi cuisine.

16, Gali Kababian, Jama Masjid, Old Delhi 110006

Haldiram's

Popular chain serving vegetarian Indian snacks, sweets, and meals. Great for trying chaat, samosas, and traditional sweets at budget prices.

Multiple locations across India

Paranthe Wali Gali

Narrow lane in Old Delhi famous for paratha shops operating since the 1870s. Try various stuffed parathas from multiple small vendors.

Gali Paranthe Wali, Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi 110006

Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters

Specialty coffee roaster with cafes serving single-origin Indian coffee. Modern minimalist design with excellent espresso-based drinks.

Multiple locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore

Indian Accent

Award-winning restaurant reinventing Indian cuisine with global ingredients and innovative techniques. Set in a beautiful manor with exceptional presentation and service.

The Lodhi, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003

Brahmin's Coffee Bar

Legendary Bangalore institution serving authentic filter coffee and idlis since 1965. Simple, no-frills setting with exceptional quality at bargain prices.

116/1, 1st Main, Shankarapuram, Basavanagudi, Bangalore 560004

Kailash Parbat

Sindhi chain restaurant famous for chaat, chaats, and vegetarian dishes. Casual family-friendly atmosphere with quick service.

Multiple locations across India

Vada Pav

Mumbai's iconic working-class street food — a spiced potato fritter in a bread roll with green and tamarind chutneys. So deeply embedded in Mumbai culture it is called the city's burger.

Find it at: Street vendors across Mumbai — Dadar station stalls are legendary

Chole Bhature

A hearty North Indian breakfast of spiced chickpea curry served with giant deep-fried puffed bread. The definitive Delhi Sunday breakfast, indulgent and deeply satisfying.

Find it at: Sita Ram Diwan Chand (Paharganj Delhi), Chache Di Hatti (Kamla Nagar Delhi)

Kathi Roll

Kolkata's signature street food — a paratha wrap filled with egg, chicken or mutton kebab, onion, and chutney. Invented at Nizam's Restaurant in 1932, now found across India.

Find it at: Nizam's Restaurant Kolkata (original), street vendors across Kolkata's Park Street

Amritsari Kulcha

Flaky stuffed flatbread from Amritsar baked in a tandoor and served with chole, pickle, and onions. The version at Kesar Da Dhaba draws pilgrims from across India.

Find it at: Kesar Da Dhaba Amritsar, Bade Mian Kulcha Amritsar, Punjab region

Bhel Puri

Mumbai's beloved beach snack — puffed rice tossed with chopped onion, tomato, tamarind chutney, sev, and coriander. Best eaten fresh from the vendor's hands on Chowpatty Beach.

Find it at: Chowpatty Beach Mumbai, Juhu Beach Mumbai, street vendors across western India

Khari Baoli Spice Market

Asia's largest wholesale spice market in Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk sells every spice, dried fruit, nut, and herb imaginable at wholesale prices. The sensory overload of colors and aromas is extraordinary.

Hours: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, closed Sundays

INA Market, Delhi

South Delhi's international food market stocks imported foods, specialty ingredients, and fresh seafood alongside South Indian groceries. Popular with Delhi's expat community and discerning home cooks.

Hours: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM daily

Crawford Market, Mumbai

Mumbai's Victorian-era food market under a beautiful Gothic building stocks fresh fruit, imported foods, poultry, and spices at competitive prices in a magnificent heritage building.

Hours: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, closed Sundays

Mullick Ghat Flower Market, Kolkata

India's largest wholesale flower market at the foot of Howrah Bridge operates from 4 AM with thousands of garlands and loose flowers for temples and weddings. Spectacular at dawn.

Hours: 4:00 AM - 10:00 AM daily (peak activity)