The best Indian restaurants in Adelaide

The aroma of spices wafting across Hindmarsh Square has been enticing passersby to follow their nose to Jasmin Indian Restaurant since its inception in 1980. Serving traditional North Indian fare five days a week, this softly lit restaurant keeps tradition at the forefront. The founding family – the Singh-Sandhus – believe that refining classics is key to their success, backed by their slew of awards over the years. Don’t go past the Punjabi lamb tandoori, eggplant curry, Malabar beef curry or the crowd-favourite: butter chicken – they’ve nailed each dish down to a tee. Add an inviting ambience and stellar service, and you've got a winner. 

Address: 31 Hindmarsh Sq, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range

A red-hot addition to Adelaide’s Indian food scene in 2021, Daughter in Law has quickly climbed the ranks to become one of the best. Although the Rundle Street eatery embraces an "unauthentic Australian Indian" label, it doesn’t fail to plate up big, bold flavours in its equally bold, neon-lit dining room. New-wave eats are born from combining both Australian and Asian ingredients, with the menu sectioned into 'from the streets', 'from the pots' and 'from the tandoor'. Get stuck into the samosa chaat, the IFC aka Indian fried chicken or perhaps the roasted barramundi curry and paneer tikka. Order a round of inventive cocktails like the 'Daughter in Law' with gin, pineapple, cardamom and lime, and you're sure to have a great night out. 

Address: 290 Rundle St, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range

Brought into the spotlight by its Sydney sister restaurant, Chatkazz in Lightsview dishes up over 200 vegetarian items from the North and South of India, plus a hefty helping of Mumbai street food like vada pav and ragda pattice. Feeling peckish? Try a 'frankie' – an Indian-style wrap, or some chaat.  Want something more substantial? Enjoy some paneer dum biryani or any of the 25 dosas (a south Indian savoury crêpe). Once the savouries are sorted, satisfy your sweet tooth with a syrup-soaked gulab jamun. Go with friends, return with family – just so that you can try as many items as you can! 

Address: 199-201 Hampstead Rd, Lightsview 

Price: Mid-range

Laxmi’s Tandoori Indian Restaurant has solidified itself as one of the best in the biz, having won the Best Indian Restaurant at South Australia’s 2023 Restaurant and Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence. The family-run Glenunga venue has been doing brisk business since 1999, and its tandoors (clay oven) have barely had a day off since, giving Laxmi’s dishes their signature char-ry flavour. Definitely get around the tandoori platter of chicken, fish, prawn and seekh kebab for a delicious feast. Hospitable service, an inviting ambience and their Sunday buffet are three more reasons to visit (and re-visit) this spot.  

Address: 295 Glen Osmond Rd, Glenunga

Price: Budget

On Blair Athol’s Main North Road is Indian Temptations, the kind of place that feels like a secret find – until you notice the steady stream of hungry locals queuing up. Owned by the warm and welcoming Sharma ji, this North Indian favourite is open till 2am every day, making it a go-to for late-night cravings. What began as a tiny takeaway has grown into a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating – and even a robot waiter delivering food to your table! Start with the samosa chaat and lamb seekh kebabs before moving on to chicken tikka, paneer butter masala and prawn malai. Order plenty of garlic naan to mop that last bit of curry off your plate. 

Address: 490 Main North Rd, Blair Athol 

Price: Budget

At Raj on Taj Hyde Park, you’ll find warm hospitality – and a warm fireplace. Whether you’re dining in or grabbing a value-packed takeaway, every dish is made with fresh ingredients and plenty of care. Start with the tandoori mixed platter for two, then tuck into favourites like aloo baigan (potatoes with eggplant), madras chicken, beef korma and the smoky paneer angara. With weekend cocktail specials and catering available, Raj on Taj has got you covered when you're craving something spicy. Who wants tandoori chicken?  

Address: 109 King William Rd, Unley

Price: Mid-range

It’s all about street food at Chaska Chaat Ka, located to the north of Adelaide’s city centre on Prospect Road. Authentic dishes from different pockets of India grace the entirely vegetarian menu, calling to those who are up for trying something new. They've got momos (steamed dumplings) from northern India, Bombay street-style sandwiches and pav bhaji, south Indian idlis and dosas, plus chaat that takes you back to Delhi. Try the chole bhature – a chickpea curry served with pillowy, puffed-up deep-fried bread. 

Address: 140 Prospect Rd, Prospect

Price: Budget

Simple, yet satisfying – that's City Indian Cuisine on Hindley Street. You’ve probably strolled past this diner countless times and smelt the aroma of food wafting by. Next time, head in. Although super casual, City Indian Cuisine packs a punch with its cheap-as-chickpeas plates from across diverse regions – proving that sometimes you really can get more for less. Take your palate on an adventure with the heavenly dal made using three types of lentils, the mango chicken curry, or the matar paneer – a popular dish made with cheese and green peas in a spiced tomato gravy.

Address: 38A Hindley St, Adelaide

Price: Budget

Dubbed the 'spice bistro' of Indian restaurants in Adelaide, British Raj turns up the heat. With Indian cricket team memorabilia and autographs splashed across the walls, this Torrensville eatery is a go-to spot for the team whenever they’re in town – and it's easy to see why. British Raj has been plating up aromatic curries and tandoor items since 2010. The menu includes plenty of the usual suspects as well as a generous vegetarian menu. Think slow-cooked goat curry on the bone; prawn Malabar with plenty of mustard seeds and curry leaves; and a sumptuous saag aloo of spinach and potato. We’ll take all three, pronto.

Address: 170 Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville 

Price: Budget

As the name suggests, Indian Delights is pretty darn delightful. The city eatery takes pride in its authentic fare, all made within the walls of its humble abode. Indian Delight's menu showcases the diversity of India’s culinary heritage. The navratan korma (which translates to 'nine gem curry') is a highlight, along with the kadai murg, where the chicken is simmered in a cast-iron pot and the simple but satisfying dal tadka. Make sure to order some kashmiri naan that's topped with cashews, almonds, glacé cherries and honey. Ordering done, it's time to sit back and savour the flavours. 

Address: 445 Pulteney St, Adelaide 

Price: Budget