The best Indian restaurants in Sydney

Brendan King says his nanna never cooked while he was growing up, and instead always remembers his grandpa in the kitchen, preparing spiced tandoori wings and fiery pork vindaloo. Parramatta Road's late-night Indian diner Derrel’s is named after King’s grandpa, and is a nostalgic ode to his food and the dishes that King loves to cook and eat himself. The colourful eatery is open until 2am on the weekends. Swing by for curry plates loaded with rice, roti, lime, onion and chutneys; tandoori chicken wings made from King’s grandpa’s recipe; and a “chip putty” with butter chicken gravy. Yum.

The original Abhi’s in North Strathfield is still the place to go for a dependable Indian fix any night of the week. The kitchen doesn’t confine itself to one region, cooking with tandoor-roasted meats from Punjab in the north to seafood curries from the southern Malabar coast. When it comes to curries, crowd favourites include a thick and fragrant Goa fish curry and delicately sweet goat number, but where Abhi’s (and Indian cuisine in general) shines brightest is in proving you don’t need animal protein for a satisfying meal.

Raja is a love letter to the colourful world of India. The vibrant Potts Point restaurant is decked out with warm mustards, dusty pinks and rich golds, with lush palms and an alfresco space. Born in Kolkata, head chef Ahana Dutt (ex-Firedoor) has drawn on her childhood to create the menu, which features things like masala clams with coconut, peppercorns and coriander; goat riblets with habanero hot sauce; and bone marrow dosa, which is every bit as delicious as it sounds.

One of the area’s oldest restaurants is the one with the least amount of surprises. All the popular Aus-Indian takeaway classics are here, and most of them are done exactly as you’d expect. The eponymous owner will tell you the tandoori chicken is the go-to: it’s tart from a 24-hour yoghurt marinade and smoky from the tandoor flames. If you want the spicy Kashmiri red-pepper version, you need to ask for it.

Faheem is one of Sydney's best curry joints. Fast, fun and incredibly affordable, FFF gets an AAA for value but don't come for the décor, the service or flattering lighting - this isn't the place for a hot date (unless you're both stumbling home drunk post-gig up Enmore Road).

This colourful South Indian street food-inspired restaurant is bustling every night with local families sharing huge plates of dosas, dhal curries and many more vegetarian dishes. Order the cheese dabeli, which sees a soft bap-like roll doused in grated cheese, sandwiching even more cheese mixed with potato and studded with extra spicy peanuts.

If we had wings, we’d fly straight to Flyover Fritterie for their dosa potato jaffles, crunchy pakoras (fritters) and spicy chai tea. This Indian street food eatery upgraded from its hole-in-the-wall CBD shop to a two-storey corner restaurant on Redfern’s main drag. The name, Flyover Fritter, is a tribute to the humble food stands under the overpasses (flyovers) of bustling Indian cities where each cart specialised in one type of street food.

In the same way that pad Thai is no longer the sole spokesperson for Thai cuisine in this country, and banh mi has shaken off the burden of representing all things Vietnamese, Gaurang Gahoi is determined to free butter chicken from the pressure to perform. Foreign Return – named affectionately for expats who leave India and come back home – is nixing the idea that Indian food is all creamy sauces, soft breads, and two-note spice blends, and putting 'lost' recipes back onto leather-bound menus.

Nithik’s is all about cranking out dosas, parathas and some exceptionally fragrant curries. Vikram Arumugam and his wife Preeti Elamaran are so excited by their menu they’ll explain each dish in great detail. Which can be heavy going if you’re really just here to eat dinner. But if you’re curious about Indian festival dishes, it’s definitely worth listening in. 

Delhi ‘O’ Delhi has been bringing the flavours, spice and soul of India to Newtown for more than 17 years. Located on  Erskineville Road, the smart spot serves up elevated takes on traditional Indian fare, and is a solid choice when the cravings hit. The menu is extensive, including a decent selection of vegetarian and vegan mains, plus a set menu option for $60. Bring a big group and get stuck into Delhi 'O' Delhi’s signature lamb dish, featuring a whole leg of lamb infused with cinnamon and marinated in spices for a day. It’s then slow-cooked in a clay oven so it’s fall-apart and delicious (the team needs 48 hours notice though, so give them a buzz before you visit).

If the sight alone of pyramids of tandoori chicken pieces, slow braised pieces of goat on the bone and deep-fried green chillis in batter doesn’t swell your eyes with spice-infused tears, then the house special Hyderabadi chicken biryani at Swagath Biryani House will certainly do the job. Cinnamon and clove-infused rice is layered over pieces of chilli, cardamom and turmeric-marinated chicken, then slow cooked until the flavours merge together to create absolute perfection. 

If you’re looking for traditional Indian fare, you won’t find it at Don’t Tell Aunty. You will find a bit of fun though, and some decent-enough food, including ‘unathentic butter chicken’ and Aussie lamb chops with a tangy eggplant chutney. Some dishes err on the side of being too sweet for us, but the curries still stand tall, each with a great depth of flavour. Order the set menu and enjoy the show-stopping curry platter. And if you’re celebrating a birthday, prepare to be serenaded by 50 Cent.

The space? A converted house recreated as an India-style ‘haveli’ (or mansion). The menu itself? It tempts with daily specials and plenty of beloved dishes. If you're feeling adventurous, we recommend either the goat masala or fish madras. You won't regret it. 

The neatly packed Sri Lankan and South Indian restaurants and grocery stores along Pendle Way are busy with shoppers and diners stocking up on dried goods, curry spices and fresh meals to take away for dinner. The most popular choice is a curry plate, and the number one place to get it is Abie’s Vegetarian Takeaway. Here, you’ll find all the colours of the edible rainbow in the 20 different all-veg curries on offer, where tropical island flavours mix with Subcontinental spice. 

Pinky Ji is an Indian-ish restaurant by chef and restaurateur Jessi Singh, found in the CBD. The vibrant space glows with red neon lights; the walls are adorned with Bollywood artworks; and caterpillar-like floral garlands drape from the ceiling. There’s a self-serve fridge stocked with craft beers, and a private dining room with a karaoke machine playing hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. If you're looking for a fun restaurant with tasty Indian-inspired plates, Pinky Ji is your spot. Hot tip: go for the set menu, which at $69 is a steal.

The way you feel about Thai food is how Brits feel about Indian fare. Given the numbers of Brits living here, a restaurant that attends to those homesick-hankerings is a must. Thankfully, The Colonial serves curries to fans in Balmain, Darlinghurst, and Neutral Bay. Food here takes its cues from the North-West Frontier province of colonial India, when the British Raj ruled. Think rich sauces, tender, marinated meat, and good dosings of spice.