The Most Flavorful Indian in Cincinnati

Shaan Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.4 (510) • $$

"What a great introduction experience! This was both of our first times having Indian food and we've definitely found a new love. EVERYTHING was delicious!! Our waitress was so patient and great with helping us decide. I assumed everything would be spicy and was being picky because I have a low spice tolerance. But the spice is customizable which I thought was fantastic. We got a ton of food which were all amazing. Starting with our appetizers. We got the clay brick oven version of bbq chicken which was finger-lickin good it came on a sizzling skillet and the table sauces which were all incredible. We also had the samosas which were essentially beef patties that were LOADED and sprinkled with maybe garlic powder. I put the green sauce and sweet sauce on them and they were amazing. If we would have had rice, we could have gotten full off of the two appetizers alone. Entrees were fabulous, the level 3 of spice was spicy (for me) so I'm glad I didn't think medium was mild and stuck with my 1 for my chicken tiki masala. I probably could've tried 2 and I will next time. Can't wait to try more Indian cuisine."

Ambar India Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (410) • $$

"Great food and friendly service. This place feels like you're in someone's home. It's comfortable and smells so good. So many amazing choices. It's great to get a few dishes and share."

Delhi Palace

★★★★★ 4.5 (281) • $$

"My parents have been ordering from here for many years and they have really great food! This is also one of my go tos when I'm craving Indian. I almost exclusively get chicken tikka masala no matter what restaurant I go to, and theirs is great. Creamy, saucy, full of flavor. I also enjoy their garlic naan - it has lots of garlic and is not too oily unlike some places.The chicken tikka had a bit of a bbq flavor which was unexpected. The chicken was very tender. I probably wouldn't get this myself (my mom got it) but it is good if you like bbq. Mango lassi! One of my favorite drinks. Mango mixed with creamy yogurt and spices - I think cardamom and Rosewater? - amazing. I highly recommend getting this if you like smoothies!"

Guru India

★★★★☆ 4.2 (306) • $$

"This was my first time eating here my boyfriend had eaten here in the past he said they used to have a buffet that was really good before covid I do like my a little spicy Indian food my boyfriend purchased a platter and shrimp and lamb Curry I had purchased a nan cheese bread with a medium chicken curry and we both shared a white rice it was really good the bread wasn't as cheesy as I thought it was going to be but the platter that we had gotten with the potatoes and the cheese Cube was really good my boyfriend doesn't like spice at all really I tried his food it wasn't that bad I wasn't a big fan of the sauce but the meat that came with it was really tender my chicken curry was also really good for it being medium it had just a little bit of a kick which was enough for me the owner was very nice he checked on us many times I believe his name was bobu he introduced himself and shook our hands very professional nice clean establishment you're in the area they're worth checking out."

Adeep India

★★★★☆ 4.1 (317) • $

"Ate here repeatedly. Outside the fashionable OTR, but really one of Cincy's gem restaurants. Not a fancy setting but workers are cordial and prepare phenomenal dishes. Tikka masala was made fresh each time, bountiful in its portion and prepared individually. Prepare to delight the senses."

Dusmesh

★★★★☆ 3.7 (375) • $

"We are getting some takeout today and we know it's going to good. Na na nan Nan Dusmesh"

Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (264) • $$

"Food for lunch buffet is n ever disappointing.Several different dishes and meat to choose from.The price has gone up,so we go 2 or 3 times a year for birthdays and special occasions! The servers are polite.I still say it is Lexington #1 in Indian food."

Amol India

★★★★☆ 4.3 (242) • $$

"Pretty authentic Indian in the Cincinnati area. We're picky and our waitress questioned our spice level (they definitely didn't give us an 8) but I imagine most blonde girls in the Midwest probably don't order that spicy and like it. We are vegetarian and were happy to see so many vegetarian/vegan options noted on the menu (another sign of good Indian). The naan was a little thin and oily but the rice was well cooked and both paneer dishes were tasty if not spicy. The vegetable samosas were ok. We saw a lot of people stop in to get pick up orders and will probably do that next time as the seating area is very small. Definitely worth trying if you like authentic Indian cuisine."

Masala

★★★★☆ 4.3 (239) • $$

"Every time I come to Kentucky, it's generally for a big racing event so of course people are waiting in line to go to Tony's or Frank and Dino's or Dudleys. But no trip for me is complete without coming to masala. The food here is just phenomenal. It's a touch on the pricey side which I feel like it's kind of been a trend with Indian food as of late. But you won't be disappointed with the quality or the portion size. This is just a little hole in the wall and a shopping center. That's pretty close to the freeway so it's very convenient to get to. The non-is so fluffy and hot and it just makes a perfect pairing with the sauce even though I know that's not how you're supposed to eat it. I also love all of the vegetarian dishes. This time I got the mushroom matar and the spice level was just exquisite. I took home all my leftovers for a meal the next day. And even though I had to refrigerator, I was gross and let it sit out and then I ate it anyways ....cold. And you know what... That shit was still good If you like Indian food, or even if you've never had it, and you want to try it; this is your spot"

Mayas Indian Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.6 (206) • $$

"I got to try Mayas when they brought a food truck to Opera in the Park this weekend. The food smelled wonderful and the taste, perfect.I got the Chicken Tikka Masala and garlic naan and it was terrific. A number of people stopped to see what I was eating and where I got it. When I told them they ran to get their own! Now having tried Mayas, I can't wait to give their restaurant a try!"

New Krishna Indian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (257) • $$

"After years of absence they finally brought their lunch buffet back!!! (Lunch only for now). The prices are different for weekdays and weekends and a bit higher than before. But what isn't nowadays. I rather pay for a few dollars more to have this buffet back than not having it at all. I totally recommend this place for anyone loves Indian cuisine"

Jot India Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.7 (176) • $$

"Always fast, always fresh, always delicious! I cannot wait until their new location in deer park opens so I don't have to cross the river to get my fix! Easily the best Indian we've had outside of Indian Spice Train in West Chester."

Swad Indian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (231) • $$

"I tried to order online to no avail. I arrived right before closing and they were nice enough to take my order. I had the chicken tikka masala and bhatura (it was a little doughy). Overall nice flavors and portions."

Elephant Walk

★★★★☆ 3.8 (249) • $$

"I've ordered delivery from Elephant Walk quite a few times but have yet to dine in person. The food varies depending on if the Ethiopian chef is working the kitchen. Their injera and shiro are ok as are the traditional sides such as gomen, atikilt wot and misir wot. The fish, although well-seasoned, lacks an umpff and would be greatly elevated if tossed with cooked tomatoes and sautéed onions. Lastly, their definition of upping the spice level is adding chopped jalapeños!I'd expect any Ethiopian restaurant to achieve this by increasing the amount of berbere. Major letdown in this area as Ethiopian food is usually prepared quite spicy. I'm not convinced I find them good enough to warrant an in-person dining experience but may decide to try after testing out the other Ethiopian restaurant in town. Overall, a solid 3 at this point."

Amma's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (204) • $$

"I was in the mood for Indian and meeting up with a friend and Amma's Kitchen was the place we found. We came in around 12:30 and were easily able to find a spot. It's obvious that most people that come in know what they're doing (there wasn't a menu presented unless asked, but the obvious choice was the buffet). So if you're a newbie, find a table and they'll come fill your water glasses shortly!I was excited for the buffet, able to try everything and go back for seconds? Count me in! I think it was around $11 for the buffet. Couldn't tell you what I got, so check out my picture. All was very yummy and I didn't even realize it was vegetarian.When I got my second plate the naan was a little crispier and darker than I'd prefer.Altogether, it's a solid choice for Indian."

Indian Spice Train

★★★★☆ 4.3 (174) • $$

"Okay I came here on Friday afternoon right at 5pm. And the place was almost empty. It didn't take long though and it started to fill up. My BFF and I ordered and literally had our food in a few minutes. It was absolutely delicious. I am so happy we came here for dinner. The place was quiet and very clean. I truly cannot wait to come back here to eat again. It may be my new favorite Indian food location. The crazy thing is; it is located behind a McDonald's and not very visible from the road."

Baba India Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (234) • $$

"I've been coming to Baba India with my dad since I was a child - so most of my life! Personally I think this is the best Indian in the city. Their rice is unique to any other rice I've had because they put saffron in it and I think it really adds something special to the rest of the meal.Their garlic naan is very garlicky and has a good crispness to it. Some restaurants use too much oil and it makes the naan greasy but here it is just right. Their mango lassi is delicious - a smooth, drinkable mango yogurt with a hint of Rosewater. The Rosewater is used perfectly, as too much Rosewater can quickly be overpowering. Chicken tikka masala is the go to for both my husband and I, and I think Baba's is the best. It's very creamy and they give you tons of sauce (very important in my book) and it has a good amount of spices.Service is always excellent here as they are very attentive and quick to provide refills and check ins on your table. Highly recommend Baba for your next Indian craving!"

Grace of India

★★★★★ 4.7 (145)

"Good food. My daughter got the chicken mango and a mango lassi. She really enjoyed both. I ordered the malai kofta with a spice level 4. It was tasty but not spicy at all. We also ordered the paneer naan and the chef naan, which was super delicious but a bit greasy. The building- inside and out is a bit rough. It looks like a dive on the outside and could use some updating on the inside.The service was friendly enough.Overall, we would definitely eat here again if we're out that way again."

Krishna Indian Restaurant Carry Out

★★★★☆ 4 (195) • $

"Delicious. Huge portions. Please look at that box of rice- it is FILLED. So if you feel like $20 is too much for an entree and naan, just know you've got two portions. I ordered online while on campus, walked 12 minutes and waited maybe two minutes before it was ready for me.I got spice level of 2 because I don't like really spicy but I'm also not trying to be level 1 spice . It was perfect, I could taste the spice and still enjoy the food.You can order and eat inside the shop, there are four booths. But this is a primarily takeout/delivery restaurant."

AAP India

★★★★☆ 4.2 (170) • $$

"As others have said, AAP India does not look like much from the outside. Given we were the first customers the day we went, parking in what looked like a deserted building gave me pause. We were, however, ready for some Indian food, we drove here and, by golly, we were going in!Thank goodness we didn't retreat, because the food waiting for us was truly delicious Indian food.I got my favorite, Saag Paneer. I believe Mark go Chicken Vindaloo. The Naan was wonderfully soft and flavorful. The Saag, which I ordered a little big spicier than I normally would, was outstanding. I couldn't get enough! Mark loved his meal as well.The place is comfortable inside. I'm sure it was a different chain restaurant before it became AAP India.Given the proximity to our home, this will become our go-to spot for eating Indian food out."

Maharaja of Dayton

★★★★☆ 4 (176) • $$

"The food is always good here and the people are nice. We get takeout regularly. -1 star because the website isn't helpful and they don't have online ordering which just adds extra steps unnecessarily and they are closed in the middle of the afternoon which has made us pick a different restaurant several times because they weren't open. When we do order here we are happy with the food."

Raja Indian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (158) • $$

"With all the solid reviews, we drove to Mason, Ohio, to Raja for our anniversary. We agreed on the food, exceptional service, very clean restaurant, and warm camaraderie with the owner's son. The portions were immense, including the fresh naan bread. If only this restaurant were close to us. Raja is undoubtedly one of the best Indian restaurants we've tried in a long time. Whenever we're in the area, we'll make a point to visit this restaurant."

Amar India Restaurant - North

★★★★☆ 4.3 (134) • $$

"This is the best Indian food in Dayton Ohio and I'm willing to fight about it. The food is always so fresh and delicious they have the best butter chicken I've ever had in my life. It's more savory than sweet and go so well with naan. They're mango Lassie is also definitely worth a try. My favorite dish is chicken vindaloo."

Taj India Indian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (121) • $$

"Came on a Monday evening so there was no wait at all. Sat ourselves as directed and was quickly greeted. Food was amazing! The fish came out fast and was a great snack while we waited on our entrees. While we were sitting we could hear commotion from the kitchen which sounded like arguing but it didn't concern us so we just chatted but it brought attention to how quiet the restaurant was. No music or audio to drawn out personal conversations. The tvs were later cut on. Dinner came and we tore it up! Got full half way through and took the rest to go. I'm in love with Indian cuisine and will definitely be back, sitting farther away from kitchen!"

Kanak India

★★★★☆ 3.5 (176) • $$

"This is a solid, authentic Indian restaurant. Family owned. The flavors in the 3 curry dishes we ordered were fantastic. The garlic naan was huge, warm, freshly made. One of the best garlic naan's we've had. Good ambiance, friendly servers, comfortable, lots of easy parking. Definitely a place to return to for Indian food and will be one of my top go to places from now on. My only gripe was that the vegetable pakoras were delicious but super small and only 6 pieces. We also ordered take out before from here and it was equally delicious, but it seemed you got more food with take out than dining in. Will definitely be returning (or ordering take out) from here!"

Flame India Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (116)

"Because of overall great reviews, we decided to make the drive to eat at Flame. We were there on a Thursday at 11 when they opened. We were the only customers until another couple arrived just as we were leaving. The restaurant is quite fancy and large. We ordered the buffet, which was @ $16. The food was hit and miss. The server made sure our waters were always full. The food was on the warm to lukewarm warm side. Round 1: The Vegetable Samosas were anything but crispy. Dal Soup was tasteless. The Naan was also tasteless. The Saag was tasty, but bland. The Vegetable Jalfrezi was delicious! The Tandoori Chicken was tender.Round 2: More Vegetable Jalfrezi and Dal Makhani, which was flavorful. Another piece of Tandoori Chicken and a side of Raita. The Raita was outstanding. It was thick, which seemed delightfully unusual. Round 3: Tomato soup was temperature hot, which was a bonus. It was a bit sweet and overall quite yummy. The Kheer was very good. I noted it had a lovely floral flavor, confirmed as a touch of rose water on the menu.Generally, the food on the buffet was bland. I guess this makes sense as I'm sure they are trying to appeal to the masses. That said, the dishes would have benefited from more spice."

OM India

★★★★★ 4.8 (93)

"My friend and I love to try new places all over the area and decided on OM because of their reviews. I had the Chicken Curry (3 spice) and Aloo Vindaloo (3 spice). Both were incredible with huge portions. I can't wait for leftovers!! I think the next time I come back I'll try level 4 spiciness!! She had Chicken Tikka Masala and loved it! All the naan choices are perfect!! It has a great vibe and customer service. Don't expect fancy. They serve in the styrofoam to go container and you get your bottled water from the cooler. After asking I found out they just decided to stay with how things were during Covid. It actually doesn't change anything, because their portions are so big, you will be taking food home anyway! Smart move!!"

Indian Fusion

★★★★★ 4.5 (103)

"The service is top notch the food was average. The decor needs to pick a lane it's either fine dining or casual. It can't be both. My oldestSon said there trying to be a Michelin star restaurant while being a a nice date night place"

Jeet India Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (160) • $$

"I've eaten here twice while traveling and absolutely loved it! The food and service were amazing both times! The atmosphere was perfect for a date night or quiet dinner."

Wok India Restaurant and Bar

★★★★★ 4.9 (77)

"First of all, the people working were extremely friendly and polite. We were greeted warmly and let to our table. One of the first things I noticed is how clean the restaurant was. We scanned the QR code for the menu. We ordered vegetable samosas, garlic naan and saag paneer. Everything came out hot and delicious. To top it all off, they gave us a small complimentary dessert. We will definitely be back!"

Royal Taj Indian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (114) • $$

"My first experience with Indian cuisine! WOW...the flavors. What have I been missing out on?The food was excellent. The restaurant was clean. I don't know the name of who waited on me, but I believe he was one of the owners. Very friendly. I got a lesson on cricket, some answers to how the sport is played.I ordered chicken curry and garlic naan. I was going to go with spice level 3, but I was persuaded to try spice level 2 for my first time. It was a good suggestion. The level 2 had my tongue and lips tingling but not in an uncomfortable way. I will try spice level 3 next time. I'm thinking I can handle that and that at the heat level, I will still be able to taste the food.Overall, an excellent experience. I will definitely go back.And to make this review complete, I had Indian cuisine the next day from a different, highly rated Indian restaurant, Adeep. I ordered the exact same thing, chicken curry and garlic naan, spice level 2. While it was good also, Royal Taj was just a level or two better in tastes, and the portion size was larger.Royal Taj has a spice level of 1-6. Adeep is 1-5. The 2 at Adeep is not spicy at all. And Royal Taj had way more garlic on the naan.Royal Taj has plenty of parking, in both the front and rear. Royal Taj also has indoor dining.It is easy to understand how Royal Taj has been a successful restaurant in the Anderson area for over 18 years. If you live outside of Anderson, this is worth the drive if you enjoy Indian cuisine or are looking to try Indian cuisine for the first time."

Hot N Spicy Restaurant and Bar

★★★★★ 4.7 (70) • $$

"My family and I checked out this place tonight and we were so happy to find this gem. It's food was amazing and it is very vegetarian friendly. We decided to get the paneer appetizer, and the kids ate it so quickly that I only got a couple of bites! Dan, our waiter, and possibly the owner, was so kind to bring my youngest some naan as we waited for our meal. The naan is made in house and Omigosh it's so soft and delicious. We got two main dishes, and we were so pleased with our choices. My husband teased Dan that his dish was spicy (he's a wimp) and Dan offered to make another dish for him. The service is top notch and the food matches. We live on the west side but we will definitely be back and we recommend it to anyone who cares for amazing service and great food. Dan also sent us home with some pistachio ice cream. My kids loved it!"

Ravis Hyderabad House

★★★★☆ 3.9 (98)

"We stayed in North Cincinnati for one night and found this place on Yelp.Absolutely fantastic food.It's a real authentic place, with a huge range of food, especially Hyderabad food such as Biryani and Sweets. We started with Gobi 65 and then my partner (vegetarian) had Mushroom Masala and I had Lamb Fry, which they added Methi at my request. Also 2 Bullet Naans.Food was fantastic, service was great.We are coming back here!"

Tandoor India Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (84) • $$

"Phone number on yelp is incorrect. Their number is (513) 745-0378Wonderful food. Chicken saag was delicious. Chicken was very tender. Chicken tikka masala was also very good. Naan was fresh, flavorful, huge and the perfect texture. New owners since the previous owner wanted to retire. The chef who was here before is now the owner. The wife is the sweetest lady and very accommodating. Excellent service. We will be back again soon. Buffet now available during lunch too!"

Krishna

★★★★☆ 3.8 (102) • $$

"As a recent Miami grad, I can safely say that Krishna is one of the best places to eat in Oxford. First, they are incredibly timely. Any time my friends, co-workers, or I have ordered Krisha, it is ready in less than 20 minutes. It is always steaming hot too when we pick up our order or eat in; it's exceptional every time. The service is always great, as they seat you right away and take your order immediately. My favorite thing to order is the chicken tikka masala and garlic naan. Both are delicious. You can order according to the level of spice you like. I normally opt for a two or three, as I prefer it on the mild-ish spice side. The naan with the sauce from the tikka masala is amazing! The portions are massive so I always have leftovers for the following day. I really enjoy this aspect honestly, as I think the leftovers taste equally as good as the day you get your food from Krishna. The sauce really seeps in, so it makes it even more flavorful.If you're in the Oxford area craving Indian food, this is the place to go. It will be one of the things I miss most about my college town!"