Indian restaurants in Los Angeles are offering up pizzas topped with chutneys, tacos stuffed with curry-marinated meats and reinvented classic dishes – not to mention comfort foods like Chicken Tikka Poutine at Badmaash’s gastropub!
Roots Indian Bistro is a family-owned eatery that has earned rave reviews for its service and delicious authentic cuisine. Attracting guests of all kinds with its relaxed atmosphere, guests are invited to come relax and enjoy their meal here.
1. Badmaash
Badmaash stands out as an unconventional Indian restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Instead of the intricate tapestries and lighting associated with traditional eateries, this modern gastropub offers casual yet cozy seating to Angelenos who wish to gather with friends for casual drinks or dining experiences.
Chef Pawan Mahendro and his sons Nakul and Arjun created a menu that simultaneously honours their Indian roots while acknowledging their Canadian upbringing. As such, their dishes reflected both cultures; for instance the Chicken Tikka Poutine combined French Fries, Cheese Curds, and Gravy for what Mahendro describes as an innovative take on classic dishes combining both cultures!
To create this delectable grilled chicken dish, spices are combined into an overnight yogurt marinade and then blended into a silky tomato sauce with butter for extra richness and acidity balance.
2. Bombay Beach
Bombay Beach used to be an idyllic resort town on the Salton Sea’s mysterious shores, drawing Angelenos and celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and the Beach Boys for fishing trips and sunbathing activities. But in the 1980s, due to rising salinity levels of its lakebed, Bombay Beach turned into an abandoned ghost town where toxic dust from surrounding fields swirled freely around.
The community now houses approximately 230 residents and several artists who use its crumbling structures as canvasses for their artworks, such as drive-in theater, poetry dump and the Bombay Beach Biennale (which debuted in 2015). Among these pieces can be found an interesting drive-in theater, poetry dump and the Bombay Beach Biennale itself (which debuted this year).
Since 2010, this festival has evolved into an all-year event featuring lectures about haunted desert landscapes as well as creative projects from painting, filmmaking and photography. Best of all? Visiting is free. Just keep in mind that people still live here and the land can be delicate; respect both their privacy as well as any historical ruins you come across when visiting.
3. Spice Affair
Spice Affair provides an authentic Indian dining experience on La Cienega’s Restaurant Row, complete with multiple water fountains and conversation-starting chandeliers. Their menu features classics like Tandoori Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo, as well as vegetarian and vegan offerings such as Tofu Tikka Masala and Jackfruit Biryani – and of course they offer catering and delivery services too! Open for lunch and dinner service as well.
Tulsi Indian Cuisine stands out as an outstanding option in Los Angeles for Indian food, offering several locations. Their counter-service dining rooms look more like Sweetgreen than your typical fast-casual Indian eatery; but their cuisine is much more exciting; try their Gunpowder Masala Dosa with soft potatoes covered with spicy dry chilies for an irresistibly delicious dish, served alongside lentil-studded Sambar!
Electric Karma Indian Restaurant in Beverly Hills offers traditional Indian fare with innovative fusion options, such as Tandoori Chicken, Saag Paneer and Curry dishes. In addition to having an ample menu offering lunch and dinner service, the full bar makes this venue even more appealing.
4. Tandoor House
This restaurant, situated in Los Angeles’ core, provides a versatile menu to meet any occasion. Their cuisine ranges from classic Indian classics to innovative interpretations of Indian dishes and wines and California beers are also readily available for selection. Dessert options such as mango ras malai are simply delectable!
Annapurna Cuisine in Culver City provides plant-based options for those searching for authentic Indian food in Los Angeles. Their menu offers an eclectic blend of Indian flavors from various regions. Their tantalizing Tandoori Platter showcases marinated kebabs with fragrant spice blends reminiscent of Delhi streets; other favorite vegetarian offerings include Palak Paneer (creamy spinach treat) and Bagara Baingan Bharta (smoky eggplant dish).
For those seeking something of everything, they also provide buffet options. Their spread includes appetizers, chicken, lamb and vegetables as well as rice salads and breads.
6. Saffron Indian Cuisine
Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen stands out as an innovative take on classic Indian dishes such as lamb vindaloo and chicken tikka masala, offering creative yet authentic fare at their halal restaurant in Dallas, TX.
Saffron Indian Cuisine in West Hollywood is another stand-out option, situated where Marty D’s once was. Here, this urban upscale-casual spot honors India’s culinary legacy with a selection of traditional favorites as well as vegetarian and gluten-free offerings.
This popular eatery is well-known for its delicious food and friendly service, while its stunning atmosphere features beautiful tandoori red/orange walls and eco-friendly paperstone counters from Pasadena-based Oringe Design Group – not to mention custom wall graphics that replicate henna designs! Open for lunch and dinner service!
7. Anarbagh
Anarbagh stands out among LA’s many Indian restaurants with its classic approach to traditional curry dishes, featuring chicken, lamb and vegetable curries as well as rice-based options such as raita and specialty salads. An ideal spot for family dining.
Find delicious Pakistani cuisine in Los Angeles at this unassuming strip mall eatery located in Lawndale since 1998. Serving dishes such as Nihari (hearty braised beef stew with ginger and jalapeo for an unforgettable flavor experience); as well as their famous Karachi-style chicken biryani. This eatery may not look fancy but you won’t regret making an effort.
At LA’s original Indian gastropub, more-is-more dishes like chicken tikka poutine and chili cheese naan make for an entertaining group dinner experience. But the real standouts here are their intensely spiced dal makhani and complex channa masala with plump garbanzo beans; both truly show what an exciting dining experience it can be!
8. Indian Restaurant
From kadai paneer to goat laal maas, this trendy and urban upscale-casual restaurant serves Indian favorites with playful sensibilities. Their creative menu blends elements of different influences into time-honored dishes like pizza topped with chutney or tacos filled with marinated meat seasoned with Indian spices; all set against an authentic village environment created by thatched awnings and mural-covered walls.
This strip mall gem boasts an expansive vegetarian buffet featuring Keralan specialities like dosa, uthappam and fish curry. Their signature thali meal is an ideal way to sample multiple dishes without becoming overwhelmed.
This sister location of the original NYC eatery opened in 2023, bringing Chef Sujan Sarkar’s innovative interpretations of traditional Indian dishes to Los Angeles. Their menu boasts many regional traditions enhanced with California produce and features California-centric items such as mushroom pepper fry with sunchokes, smoked almonds and ramps or cauliflower kofta with hearts of palm, spinach and Swiss chard.
9. Electric Karma
Electric Karma, located in West Hollywood’s 3rd Street dining district, offers authentic Punjabi style cuisine from Northern India with many vegan-friendly offerings. When they first opened their restaurant, owners and brothers Parmijit “Pamma” Singh and Lakhvir “Lucky” Singh oversaw each kitchen task themselves to ensure all recipes were prepared according to how their mother taught them.
Dreamy restaurant boasting exquisite food is also known for its dreamlike ambiance: vibrant colors and flickering candles set the scene, while Bollywood films play across a movie screen in the main dining area where diners sit comfortably on plush floor pillows to enjoy meals.
On its menu are traditional vegetarian samosas seasoned with tamarind and sweet tomato chutney, pakora fritters, sambar soup, cheese naan and masala dosa – a crispy crepe-like crepe filled with spiced potatoes similar to tortilla wraps – among many other tasty items. One of its most beloved family recipes has been its chicken tikka masala dish for four generations now!