The spice-rich food of the Indian subcontinent (from Pakistan to Sri Lanka) has long been a takeaway mainstay. While repetitive menus of samosas, butter chicken and beef vindaloo haven’t done this rich cuisine any favours …
… authentic ‘cheap & cheerful’ restaurants in suburbs with large Indian populations (such as Harris Park) set the record straight. There are also a number of long-term players presenting the diverse food of this fascinating region in more comfortable surrounds with service and wine lists to match. Here are some of the best Indian restaurants in Sydney.
Nilgiri’s Cremorne
The ever-smiling Ajoy Joshi serves great vego food, from tandoor-smoked broccoli to crisp puris with mashed eggplant. Then there’s sweet-sour-hot tandoor prawns, tender lamb backstrap with mint & sesame, and butter chicken worth eating! Ajoy’s focus shifts often, highlighting different regional cuisines. And with a WSET certificate under his belt, his wine matches are spot-on. Meet Ajoy in the video below.
Don’t Tell Aunty Surry Hills
I love tradition but also enjoy a skilful rethink of the classics, and Jesse Singh walks that line beautifully. From crisp one-bite, chutney-filled ‘balls of happiness’ and tangy, spicy fried Tso cauliflower, to a delicious array of curries and good naan. There are great-value tasting menus and a fabulous natural wine list too.
Abhi’s North Strathfield
Abhi’s is one of Sydney’s oldest Indian restaurants, and still one of the best! Kumar Mahadevan and his team offer classics with a light touch, starting with the crisp colourful chaat (spinach in lentil batter with yoghurt, chilli & mint sauce, and date & tamarind chutney) which is a must!
Delhi’O’Delhi Newtown
At this neighbourhood favourite Javed Khan treats customer like guests and loves introducing them to dishes beyond the restaurant standards. Bite-sized potli samosas are excellent and tandoor-seared lamb cutlets in a thick gingery marinade are delicious. There’s plenty of interesting vegetarian options (including Punjabi black lentil and potato dumplings), camel curry for the more adventurous, and great breads.
Malabar Darlinghurst & Crows Nest
Mohammed Sali has been sharing his love of southern Indian food with Sydneysiders since the mid-90s. I love his spicy, sour rasam soup and struggle to choose from the selection of dosa (giant crisp rice and lentil crepes). Thankfully banquet menus and lunch thalis solve the dilemma.
Updated 27 Jul 2025
