The 8 best Indian restaurants in Darwin

When chef Jimmy Shu opened the doors of Hanuman in 1992, an empire was born. Named after the half-monkey, half-human Hindu deity, the restaurant has been a staple of Darwin’s foodie scene for more than three decades. It also made its mark on the Red Centre when Hanuman Alice Springs opened in 2001. This is a restaurant you recommend to visiting friends, a place to celebrate special occasions and somewhere to impress a date. Inside, the lighting is moody and the styling is ornate. Outside, the courtyard is flush with greenery and open to the breeze. No matter where you’re seated, the menu is exceptional. The beauty of Hanuman is its mix of traditional dishes done in innovative ways. There’s the barramundi meen moolie that acclaimed food critic Melissa Leong raves about and the eggplant pacchadi that we dream about. Follow our lead and find your new favourite dish at Hanuman. 

Address: 93 Mitchell St, Darwin City

Price: Mid-range

Restaurant locations in Darwin don’t get much better than the Exotic North Indian Cuisine restaurant overlooking the Cullen Bay Marina. With waterfront views, a relaxed energy and a goat curry worth writing home about, this restaurant is a must-visit. The owners hail from Punjab, hence the 'north' in the name. Try the chef’s special karahi (choose from chicken, lamb or beef) or Punjabi gobi (cauliflower) if you wish to be transported to North India without leaving the Top End. All of the dishes are perfectly paired with naan, freshly baked in the tandoor oven, including a rich cheese and spinach naan, and a sweet Peshwari naan stuffed with nuts and dried fruit. 

Address: 2/52 Marina Blvd, Larrakeyah 

Price: Mid-range

Depending on where you are in India, the cuisine can change quite drastically. Saffron restaurant in Parap offers diners a taste of India from the north to the south. Chef Selvam Kandasamy was born in Tamil Nadu in South India and learned to blend spices in his grandmother’s kitchen; those spices are the backbone of his menu, which includes prawn pepper masala (with local banana prawns), snake beans poriyal (with beans from Humpty Doo), and pumpkin kara kari (with Coolalinga pumpkin). As you may have noticed, chef Sel is passionate about local produce and uses Territory ingredients to showcase his native cuisine. 

Address: 14/34 Parap Rd, Parap 

Price: Mid-range

Okay, okay. We know Nirvana is technically a fusion restaurant serving Indian/Malay/Thai, but the Indian flavours on the menu make it worthy of a spot on this list. Nirvana is a local treasure for three reasons: the old building survived Cyclone Tracy in 1974, the venue hosts epic jam nights on Tuesdays where anybody and everybody can play on stage, and the food is sensational. Start with a trio of dips (yoghurt raita, mango chutney and satay) served with papdams and roti as well as some tandoori chicken pieces. Follow that with a classic lamb korma curry and finish the night with a whisky at its Smoke and Oak cocktail lounge. Thank us later. 

Address: 14 Dashwood Cres, Darwin City

Price: Mid-range

After a couple of bevvies at Monsoon’s Bar and Grill and a dabble of karaoke at Six Tanks Brewery, there’s no better sight than the glowing bain-maries of Darwin Tandoor. Located just down the road on the Mitchell St strip, this hole-in-the-wall is popular among downtown revellers and casual diners alike. It’s also great for people-watching. The biryani, dal and curries can be taken away or eaten at the tables in the alleyway. This is no-fuss Indian comfort food at its comfiest. 

Address: Shop 21/69 Mitchell St, Darwin City

Price: Budget

Authentic is an overused word when it comes to Indian food because what’s authentic is hard to pinpoint from region to region. Nevertheless, if you’re after an 'authentic' experience, Memories of India has you covered. Raj Ghotra opened the Darwin restaurant in 2014, and it was such a big hit that he opened a Melbourne branch a few years later. (It’s not often Melbourne follows Darwin, so we’re particularly proud of having the OG venue). As for authenticity, it comes through its experienced chefs who use brass urns, copper vessels and specially-built large tandoor ovens to cook their dishes such as malai kofta, shahi goat curry, tangri kebab and smoky baingan (eggplant) bartha. 

Address: 5/2 Sabine Rd, Millner

Price: Mid-range

Down at Stokes Hill Wharf, past the Convention Centre and located in Starboard Side Arcade, you’ll find a little gem: Incredible India. The restaurant (which also has a Palmerston venue) has all your most-loved dishes: beef vindaloo served extra hot, aloo gobhi that's a veggo delight and the utterly delicious goat masala. Another thing that sets Incredible India apart? Its location at Stokes Hill Wharf, with its proliferation of alfresco eateries, makes it the perfect place to catch a sunset. 

Address: 45 Stokes Hill Rd, Darwin City

Price: Mid-range

In the northern suburbs of Darwin, Taj Curry is a shining star. This Nightcliff eatery is a cosy spot, perfect for a casual dinner out or wholesome takeaway on the couch. The menu is a blend of Indian and Nepali flavours, which means you can order a spicy goat biryani and kadai paneer as well as some steamed momos and chowmein. Truly the best of both worlds. Better yet, they have a rotating list of special offers like chole bhature every Thursday, a dinner pack that's a hit with students and even a momo eating competition!  

Address: 58 Aralia St, Nightcliff 

Price: Budget