The 10 best Indian restaurants in Dublin

Let’s face it – Dublin isn’t the cheapest of cities. So if you’re looking for a budget meal, we recommend heading straight to Clanbrassil Street: here you’ll find one of the city’s best bargains. At Konkan, the tasting menu includes a selection of starters (samosas, kebabs, fish cakes) and three shareable mains, typically butter chicken, prawn jalfrezi and Keralan lamb with potato kari. You’ll also get rice, plus garlic and plain naan. If that doesn’t fill you up, nothing will. 

Price: Bargain

Down in the gorgeous seaside Dún Laoghaire area, Rasam (which was awarded a Michelin star in 2023) serves street food-style dishes including aloo tikki (potato cakes) and pork chatpata, plus an extensive array of vegetarian and vegan dishes. The roti and naan are all top-notch, especially the aloo kulcha, a naan stuffed with spiced potatoes and onions.  

Price: Mid-range

Sometimes, you just want a slap-up Indian feast that’s cheap as curry sauce-soaked chips. Enter Diwali. This Dublin staple on bustling George’s Street boasts super-friendly staff and a menu stuffed with Indian and Nepalese classics. Their early-bird menu is a ridiculous bargain for two courses from Monday to Wednesday.

Price: Bargain

Doolally is headed up by renowned Indian chef Alfred Prasad, who was awarded a Michelin star at just 29. The restaurant itself is sleek and stylish, and the food is exceptional, with tender tikka kebabs and an incredible bone marrow butter naan bread. There’s a decent cocktail menu, but also a good selection of low-alcohol and alcohol-free options, including a richly fragrant Doolally Chai, which is topped up free throughout your meal. 

Price: High-end

With the Olympia Theatre just a minute’s walk away, this Dame Street restaurant is the ideal spot for a pre-gig meal. Arrive at Kathmandu Kitchen before 7pm, and you’ll get two bargain courses, including all the classics like chicken pakora, aloo chap, prawn bhuna and a spicy Nepalese duck. The wine menu is also great value.

Price: Bargain

In a great spot on Baggot Street, Kerala Kitchen is the place to go with a gang – this way, you can order the menu and tuck into everything. Don’t go with someone who doesn’t share, is what we’re saying. Their crunchy, herby Bhelpuri is a dream, and there’s an excellent vegan bean curry on the menu as well.

Price: Mid-range

Camden Street favourite Pickle has a cult following among Dubliners, who can’t talk about their dishes without getting a faraway look in their eyes. And with good reason – this is a place that’ll leave you dreaming about curry for weeks. The speciality here is classic Indian flavours, combined with Irish ingredients – think Tandoori scallops from Kilkee and Tandoori guinea fowl. The kid goat curry is out of this world. 

Price: Mid-range

Long considered a suburb of sorts, Terenure has seen some cracking restaurants pop up in recent years. If you find yourself in these parts, Vermilion is a bit of an insider’s secret – the food is stellar, and the service punctual. There’s also an excellent selection of vegan dishes. Pop into Green Man Wines after to pick up a tip-top bottle to take home.  

Price: Mid-range

Three Leaves offers a different kind of experience – their menu changes regularly, and there’s no choice for dinner – only a (very delicious) set menu. Tucked away in Blackrock Market, it’s open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, and a little later on the weekends. BYOB.

Price: Mid-range

If you’ve ever been to an Irish music festival, you will have spotted the huge lines by the Kinara food stand (or heard the rhythmic drumming of the chef hammering the BBQ). Their Ranelagh restaurant Kinara Kitchen serves impeccable Pakistani cuisine, from Tandoori monkfish to a creamy Makhanwala Murgh. To be honest, you can’t go wrong with anything here. There’s even a cocktail bar on the roof. We recommend the Maharani, a cardamom-infused gin with a hint of chilli.

Price: High-end