The best Indian restaurants in Brisbane right now

For a blend of Indian and Nepali flavours, using only the freshest premium ingredients, check out Paddington Curry House. The restaurant’s passionate team love sharing their food and culture, and in the words of owner Geeta Singh, "we believe in creating beautiful memories in people's lives".

Chef Mahesh has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, including a stint in a five-star hotel in India (and he’s also a keen bodybuilder!). Mahesh’s expert hand and attention to fine-dining detail are evident in standout dishes like eggplant pasanda and rahra gosht. Make sure you try the delicately flavoured speciality dishes from Nepal, including the vegetarian and meat momos (dumplings), which can be eaten steamed, fried or doused in an addictive chilli sauce.

You’ll also find the usual favourites, including khormas and chicken tikka masala, as well as accompaniments like spinach and cheese naan and saffron rice. The menu includes a variety of vegan and gluten-free dishes, as well as a dedicated takeaway menu. With an ethos of ensuring that every customer leaves well fed and with wonderful memories, Paddington Curry House is the kind of local favourite that you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.   

If you’ve ever been to India, you’ll know that street food reigns supreme. Think samosas, all manner of spicy and tangy chaat and South India’s famous dosas. Luckily for us, Mirchh Masala has taken the best of the street and brought it to our very own Woolloongabba, making a visit to this restaurant a delightful experience. Downstairs you’ll find a well-stocked Indian supermarket, with the buzzing Indian-style canteen above. The fully vegetarian menu offers an extensive range of dishes, and you’ll probably come across dishes that you’ve never tried.

Choose from a variety of Indian chaats (which translates as ‘to lick’ or ‘tasty’), including India’s most popular street food, pav bhaji, or the restaurant's best seller, chole bhature — fried flat bread with a rich chickpea curry. Mirchh Masala also has some of the best south Indian food to be found in Brisbane, including the likes of dosas, idlis and uttapam, said to be India’s version of pizza.

If you’re not sure what to order, try a thali, a full meal in itself that includes curries, dal, rice, bread, pickles, salad, yoghurt and dessert. Once you’ve eaten all you can, head downstairs and stock up on some Indian goods from the supermarket, which also has its own Indian sweet counter. 

New Farm’s Taj Mahal is a Brisbane institution when it comes to high-quality north Indian food. Nihal and Rattan Mann have been dishing out their blend of warm service and delicious food since 1998, keeping local customers and high-profile fans satisfied.

Taj Mahal is often the pick for visiting celebrities, including several Indian cricket teams, Bollywood legend Abhishek Bachchan and comedian Arj Barker, and once you’ve tasted the food you’ll understand why. Despite a difficult few years, during which the original restaurant burnt down, Taj Mahal has reopened across the road and is back serving up much-loved dishes, including tandoori specials like chicken tikka, shahi kebabs and a huge variety of naans.

The elaborate menu also offers a range of biryani dishes and seafood specials, along with more unusual Indian-Chinese fusion dishes like the must-try gobi Manchurian. The menu also includes firm favourites like pakoras, samosas, curries, dals, and a range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes, as well as specialty Indian desserts and drinks, all dished up with the friendly service that they are known for.      

Govindas restaurants are a worldwide phenomenon, serving up hearty vegetarian fare in the Hare Krishna tradition. Govindas have been satisfying Brisbanites for more than 20 years, and there are now two branches. The West End restaurant offers a selection of rotating menus and a quiet upstairs location, whereas the city branch is a buzzing lunchtime favourite for city workers. Both are great for quick and healthy lunch options, with serving sizes to match any appetite. Take your pick from samosas, vegetable curries, dal, rice, salads, chutneys, papadums, and the highlight of a visit to Govindas — perfectly fried golden koftas. If you can’t get enough of the koftas you can order a bowl full of them, which come served with a delicious tomato and herb sauce.

With speciality drink and dessert options, including the house-made ginger and mint lemonade (another thing customers can’t get enough of), you won’t leave feeling hungry. The West End restaurant also runs a traditional Hare Krishna Sunday love feast. If you’ve never experienced the variety on offer at a Govindas feast, this is well worth checking out. 

For modern Indian cuisine with a healthy edge, head straight to Paddington’s It’s Mirchi. The passionate team, led by head chef Urvashi, pride themselves on their delicious fresh and certified organic dishes. The eclectic menu features food that caters to a variety of tastes and dietary requirements, including vegan, gluten-free, nut-free and sugar-free options. Tell the friendly staff what you are after and they will be able to point you in the right direction, or peruse the menu and choose from the curries and healthy bowl options.

Stand-out dishes include the crisped-to-perfection onion bhajis, the vegan mung bean masala, and the creamy warmth of the Goan barramundi curry. The drinks menu features local craft beers, exclusive cocktails and an expert wine list. There’s even a kids' zone on the menu and a selection of crazy shakes, sure to keep the young and the young at heart well and truly satisfied.

Dine alfresco or choose between the bright and airy front room or the more intimate back room, where you can sit at traditional low tables and eat with your hands for a truly authentic experience.

This West End favourite is named after Kolkata’s famous cricket ground, and the themed menu and décor won’t disappoint keen cricket fans. The menu focuses on north Indian Punjabi dishes like butter chicken and aloo gobi, with chef Neetu and her husband Vikas also serving up specials from the traditional tandoor.

Where Eden Garden really hits the ball out of the park (see what we did there?) is with its specialised vegan menu. This separate menu features five entrees, 11 curries, six breads, a vegan mango lassi and even vegan kulfi, an Indian ice cream flavoured with cardamom, almonds, pistachio and saffron. Delicious!

With a range of shared banquets on offer (including the ‘stumped banquet meal’ for truly devoted cricket fans), as well as generous discounts for takeaway, there really is something for everyone at Eden Garden. We also have it on good authority that Neetu is about to start offering Indian cooking classes, meaning that you can take those Punjabi flavours home with you. 

At Morningside’s Curryville, every dish is made fresh to order, right down to the signature spice and sauce blends. This attention to detail results in outstanding dishes that cater to a wide range of dietary needs — all of the curries are gluten-free and can be made dairy-free on request.

Owners Pervez and Ambreen Burney have created an unusual and often hilarious menu, with highlights including ‘naansense’ and ‘I’ll have the poor goat’. Take it from us, you’ll understand what sets Curryville apart when you check out the rest of the menu descriptions and try the food, with each curry containing an average of more than 20 spices. Curryville also offers specials like the street food-inspired vegetable chaat (smashed samosas topped with the likes of fresh coriander, tamarind sauce and yoghurt) and chicken Hai-Hai, reportedly Brisbane’s hottest curry (and whose menu description features a prayer). Can you handle the heat?  

Camp Hill’s Mamak Tandoori House is a much-loved hidden gem. Boasting an extensive tandoori menu as well as a variety of more unusual South Indian and Malaysian options, there are plenty of new dishes to keep you satisfied. Try the speciality dishes from the tandoori oven, including tandoori chicken, sheek kebabs and naans. Malaysian specialities on offer include sambals made with the flavours of lemongrass and chilli; assam fish rich with garlic, galangal and okra; and the soy sauce infused lamb sukka. Or perhaps you’d prefer to choose from creamy coconut based dishes like ayam masak merah, lamb kapitan or beef rendang. There are also a range of unusual south Indian curries on offer, including chettinadu, karaikudi and plenty of seafood specialities like Malabar fish. Vegetarians are well catered for with dals, curries and Malay favourites like stir-fried green beans with egg, stir-fried okra and sambal tofu. If you feel like enjoying the flavours of India and Malaysia at home, the restaurant also delivers.