The 17 Best Indian Restaurants in Melbourne

Owned by married couple Raj and Krystle, Punjabi Curry Cafe in Collingwood serves authentic north Indian cuisine without trying any modern twists. This stuff is the real deal, and with 15 years experience as restaurateurs, they know what they’re doing. This Indian restaurant in Melbourne features an exposed tandoor oven, so while you wait for your meal to arrive, you can sit back with a drink and watch the chefs skilfully cook up some of the best naan bread in town. 

The menu is extensive, with a vegetarian list that puts most other restaurants to shame. Pair your curry feast with a good selection of beer and cider — including Kingfisher lager on tap — or a glass of wine from the modest but well-curated drinks list. There is also a fair selection of whiskies to indulge in, depending on the kind of night you’re having.

Two Fat Indians in Berwick takes its name from the two brothers who founded it, Kush and Michael, and is a cheeky homage to their insatiable appetites. Since 2006 they’ve been serving up a popular array of traditional Indian food in an environment where the diner is encouraged to sit back, relax and go with the flow. With a casual yet elegant dining room, the atmosphere here, one of the best Indian restaurants in Melbourne, is the perfect place to eat, drink and be happy.

The menu offers a traditional banquet for groups, featuring classics such as butter chicken, lamb rogan josh and butter naan — with tea, coffee or port to accompany.  Then the a la carte menu gets more experimental. Get around dishes like the sour lime chicken with mango chutney or goat curry served on the bone. Wash it all down with a decent selection of wines and you’re set for a great night out in the burbs.

Amar Singh, the legend behind some of Sydney and Melbourne’s best Indian restaurants, opened Bibi Ji on the Carlton end of Lygon Street in May 2024. Much like Daughter in Law in Chinatown, Bibi Ji is home to Singh’s much-loved brand of ‘inauthentic’ Indian food. Inspired by street food snacks in India, but reimagined for a contemporary Australian audience, Singh’s dishes are all about big flavours served up in an easy-to-share manner.

To start, for example, you’ll find the likes of a vegan chutney platter, spicy chicken bites, and zingy dahi puri among a heap of other snacks. When it comes to bigger bites, you’ll find Aussie staples like butter chicken and tikka masala, plus plenty of lesser-seen options, most of which are vegetarian. For just $55, you get to experience Singh’s version of a South Indian tradition: thali. This set menu comes with stacks of snacks and chutneys, plus limitless curries and a dessert.

With nine Indian restaurants in Melbourne and counting, Aangan in Footscray is a true success story in the local culinary scene. It may have an understated interior that won’t win any design awards, but the spectacular food, ambiance and service will certainly transport you to India. It’s no-frills dining at its best.

The menu champions vegetarian eats while picking and choosing some of the best classic curries from regions all over India. You can easily taste your way around the sub-continent at this Footscray restaurant. But prepare for real heat when the menu warns you. The chefs aren’t holding back any punches when dishing out these flavour-packed feasts.

Situated on Port Melbourne’s bustling Bay Street, Aagaman takes its name from the Hindi word for ‘arrival’, signifying the arrival of a restaurant that celebrates the eclectic and expansive Indian-Nepalese cuisine. Head chef Ram Sapkota, who was encouraged as a child to cook for the family by his mother, prides himself on distinctly flavoured curries with a delicate and modern approach to traditional dishes.

Try the brilliant butter chicken (one of the best in Melbourne) or go off piste, ordering something you’ve never had before. This is the place to do it. The servers know their stuff, so be sure to ask for recommendations. And if you prefer to stay off the wines and beers, try some of Aagman’s signature cocktails made to be paired with the vibrantly flavoured curries.

Set against a backdrop of Hindi pop music and projected Bollywood films, Babu Ji has been regarded as one of Melbourne’s best Indian restaurants since opening in 2014. Famous for its incredible home-style flavours, Babu Ji’s menu leans into authentic Indian cooking and street food, with a contemporary twist evident both in the decor and on the plate.

The food is simple yet sophisticated, and most dishes are designed to be shared amongst friends. But it’s not all savoury here. Desserts are also a big deal. Cleanse your pallet at the end of the night with the famed flattened cheesecake drenched in a sweetened creamy milk or go for some of the Indian doughnuts covered in a honey saffron and rose syrup concoction. Just make sure you save room for all this goodness.

With its Bollywood soundtrack, pink-lit bathroom with the mantra “you are beautiful” on repeat and a drinks trolley that looks like it came straight from the set of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Jessi Singh’s Daughter in Law promises — and delivers — a whole lot of fun. You’ll be tasting dishes from the street, the pots and the tandoor — all given an ‘inauthentic’ twist. Prepare to try flavour combos you’ve never had before.

There’s no BYO option at this Indian restaurant in Melbourne, but the team’s wine list is so impressive, you don’t need it. Expect the full range of fizz, red, white, pink and skin contact tipples from Australian, French and Californian vineyards. There’s also a self-serve beer fridge stocked with an impressive range of craft beer.

Images: Peter Tarasiuk

Having been around longer than most readers of this masthead, it‘s safe to say the team at Tandoori Den, founded in 1981, know how to cook a good curry. Self-proclaimed culinary guides Prakash Mirchandani and Gaurav Khanna pride themselves on having created a suburban restaurant with a touch of class. It‘s the kind of place you can bring the whole family without having to settle for flavourless fare to please the kids.

On that note, be aware that this Melbourne Indian restaurant doesn’t shy away from the chilli. And while not every dish is going to blow your head off, it‘s good to have a drink within reach for the others. There’s a selection of lassis to try, made with mango, strawberry, rose or passionfruit. Or if booze is your vibe, try the beers, wines and the special Indian-inspired cocktails.

Located just off Collins Street in the heart of Melbourne‘s CBD, Curry Vault offers modern Indian dishes and an expertly curated wine list. It‘s the perfect place to kick back for a long lunch (Monday-Friday) or a special dinner (Monday-Saturday). Inside, expect a mix of casual art gallery, classic Indian diner and local bar. It’s a somewhat formal dining experience but not at the price of fun. There’s a casual and relaxed atmosphere where you can easily spend a few hours like they were mere minutes.

As well as being one of the best Indian restaurants in Melbourne, Curry Vault is something of a wine bar, specialising in pairing your order with a glass of wine. Its list includes a large selection by the glass or bottle and there’s something to complement every dish. Take your time here, slowly eating and drinking your way though all the offerings.

Nestled in The Archway on Katherine Place, Delhi Streets brings authentic Indian market food to the city of Melbourne. Owner Charan Singh prides himself on running an atypical Indian restaurant in Melbourne. Expect a more snack-based, market-style affair that includes classic Indian eats as well as more Western fare. The Indian-flavoured pizzas and wraps will certainly keep you guessing.

Keeping it all in the family, Singh’s dad is even manning the tandoor oven. He’s a total pro who is unrivalled in Melbourne’s Indian dining scene. Try the mixed grill platter or stick with the classic chicken coated in a garlic and ginger marinade — a favourite of Singh’s dad. 

Bringing authentic(ish) Indian food to Gertrude Street, Ish fuses modern and traditional elements of the cuisine. The share menu is split between ‘peckish’, ‘moreish’ and ‘famished’ categories. Smaller plates include Indian scotch eggs with curried onion and pulled confit duck marinated in Indian spices. Also try the homemade pan buns with a spiced potato fritter and mint and coriander chutney — a classic on the streets of Mumbai.

Stepping through the doors, you’ll feel transported to contemporary India. Spread over two floors, the restaurant features leather banquettes, timber high tables and exposed brick walls downstairs. Upstairs boasts forest green accents, round tables and brass and leather seating. Grab a seat, get comfy and prepare to feast on all manners of tasty Indian treats.

Image: Rhiannon Taylor.

Masti, by owner and head chef Manpreet Sekhon (aka the ‘Curry Queen‘, of Eastern Spice fame in Geelong), brings a light-hearted and laidback approach to Indian dining right on Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street. With a classic wooden bar to lean on over a bowl of lamb vindaloo and dim lighting to set the mood, this is the kind of place to stay a while, not just dine and dash. Exploring the tantalising flavours of all of India, Masti offers up a selection of appetisers including papdi chaat, their own unique take on nachos, alongside classics like tandoori chicken.

There are also 17 curries on offer — almost half of them vegetarian – while the desserts are well within must-try territory. Get around the Indian donuts, carrot pudding and unmissable mango lassi before finishing the whole dining experience off with the Tea-Groni — an orange peel tea-infused gin with Campari and sweet vermouth. Superb food, drinks and vibes combine to make Masti one of the very best Indian restaurants in Melbourne.

In 2016, head chef and owner Harry Dhanjal, of Fuzion Restaurant, teamed up with business partner Brij Patel to create Atta in Albert Park. With an elegant and sophisticated interior, featuring polished cement floors and large arched windows, Atta is the kind of Melbourne Indian restaurant where you can enjoy fine dining without the posturing of stuffy waiters and an intimidating menu. 

Combining centuries-old recipes from all corners of India, Atta adds subtle yet modern twists that set it apart from the more traditional Indian restaurants in Melbourne. There are the essentials, of course, such as tandoori chicken and pappadums, but dressed up with betel leaf, cabbage foogath and balsamic gels. The rest of the extensive menu follows such a pattern of fun but simple adaptations.

There are few places that instantly make you feel special. Tonka, formally Honky Tonks, is one of them. The moment you walk in, you know this place is different. The staff are warm yet professional and the dining room is stunning, accented by a twirling white installation hanging from the roof.

Either head to the bar for drinks and snacks (think soft shell crab pakoras and spiced tuna tartare) or move through to the larger restaurant bar and formal dining room for longer feasting sessions. Depending on the vibe you’re after, one of these three spaces will help you experience some of the best Indian food in Melbourne.

Horn Please has passed through a few different owners and chefs throughout the years. It was originally run by Jessi Singh until he sold it in 2015. Amar and Raj Singh took over until Jessi returned in 2018 to work as a consultant and chef for Horn Please. Nowadays, each of these talented people plays a part in making this haunt one of the very best Indian restaurants in Melbourne. 

Start off with some street eats (both traditional and contemporary) before moving on to some of the best curries in Melbourne. Yes, there’s your classic butter chicken and rogan josh. But why not branch out with one of the niche village dishes from northern India, like the Punjabi kadhi — spiced spinach fritters served with turmeric and slow cooked sour yoghurt. In need of a fun nightcap? Try the ‘Dirty Lassie’ that’s been spiked with spiced rum.

Top images: Peter Tarasiuk

In an unassuming shopfront on High Street in Northcote sits one of Melbourne’s best Indian restaurants. Owned and run by Michael Vass, who took over the family business in 2013 after opening its doors back in 1995, Curry Cafe is the type of place to lounge back over three or four dishes with a group of mates while swilling tap beer in a vain attempt to ward off the spice.

Curry Cafe is unique in that the team roasts their own spices, rather than buying them in bulk from wholesalers. They then grind them and add them to their curries, which is fortunate — for a place named Curry House, it’s probably best your curries are world class. And they certainly are. The range of curries feature crowd-pleasers, stacks of vegetarian and vegan options, plus a few lesser-known regional specialties. Adding this haunt to our list of the best Indian restaurants in Melbourne was a no-brainer.

At Brunswick Street’s Indian restaurant Mukkah, Delhi brothers Prateek and Aditya Dhawan mean to pack a punch — and put new life into Indian food in Melbourne while they’re at it. The passion and vitality is obvious from the moment you step through the door. The space features jaunty colours, greenery hanging from slatted rafters and a specials board that revels in its chalky colourfully illustrated invitation: ‘Hey, will you share a cocktail jug with me?’ How could you refuse an offer like that?

Or the slow-cooked goat curry and Tibetan momo dumplings for that matter? But if goat and cocktails don’t rock your boat, there’s plenty of other goodness to choose from across the menu. A selection of street food forms the basis for the starters, while heaps of curries and other mains also adorn the impressive menu at Mukka, one of the best Indian restaurants in Melbourne. And if you’re a lassi fan, you’ve got to try the spiced-up minty version with vodka or coconut rum.

Image: Jo Rittey