The Best Indian in Pittsburgh

Udipi Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (450) • $$

"Worth all the hype! This little hole in the wall mom and pop shop may not appear to be much on the outside...but the food is incredible. As soon as I stepped out of my car I was hit with a wonderful smell of curry, seasonings, and bread. I was soo excited!!I got the appetizer sampler to try a little of everything and it was amazing!! I also got garlic nan which was incredible, and the Mysore Masala Dosa which I haven't tried yet because I got wayy too stuffed - looks fantastic. Overall, I can't wait to be back! Love authentic restaurants"

India on Wheels

★★★★☆ 4 (60) • $

"If you know me you know I've been to a lot of restaurants and food trucks. So when I say this is the best Curry I've had in North America, and the best food truck I've ever eaten from, you know I'm either on acid, or dead right. Or more likely, both.When I see this food truck, I start doing "India on Cartwheels" in my mind. And I let out a few "India on Squeals." I brought my friend Remington here, thinking it was "India On Steele's." And if it were referring to my guy friend from Hyderabad who is currently dating my girl friend from Cardiff, it'd be "India on Wales." Ahem.What to get: Large Chicken Tikka Masala (spice level 1-10) for $5.50.Why: It's the best curry in North America, and I've had at least 57% of them.You're lying: Yes, I'm horizontal in bed right now because I'm full to the brim of IoW curry.So they how are you going to get to the gym today: You're going to have to curry me out.Seriously, if you only eat 1 thing in Pittsburgh, let it be this. They open from around 11 to 6 each day (shorter hours when school is out, sometimes), parked on Bigelow about 2 blocks north of the Cathedral Of Learning. There's a new one over by Carnegie Mellon too, haven't been yet.I've sent and taken many people here now, and the *majority* think it is one of the best curries they've ever had. Including people who have lived in and visited England and/or India. So I'm not crazy. I get requests to drive it all the way back to Buffalo most times I'm here.The prices are ridiculously low. It's silly. I mean, they're basically giving these amazing curries away. The Samosa Chaat is good, the Mango Lassi not so good, but it's the curries that win the world universe galaxy curry contest. Chicken Tikka Masala is *the* one. It tastes a lot like the curries over in England (British Indian is a cuisine all unto itself, invented by Indian immigrants, and perhaps the most delicious genre of food you can get in the UK... and we all do). It would actually be one of the best ones in London, Birmingham, Manchester, or even Bradford. Except that it's in Pittsburgh.Don't leave it out of the fridge for too long, or it'll be "India on Congeals." And be grateful it's served over rice and not "India on Oatmeal." If you eat so much of it that you get super tall, I'll call you "India on Shaquille." And if you want to turn me on while eating it, try "India on High Heels."The people of Pitt just don't know how lucky they are to have this truck here. I drive 4 hours from Buffalo just to have it, on a bi-monthly basis. Not that I'm bi, but I would be, if that was the only way to scarf down this curry regularly.However, one caveat is that not everyone will like it. If you're used to "Indian Indian" over British Indian, or if you are used to the Americanized crap (sorry), then this might not be your cup of tea. It's a matter of taste. If it's not your cup of tea, we can't be friends anymore. (Joke) (Sort of). Some of the negative reviews here are actually clearly from people who were expecting Americanized crap, and "don't get it." It's their loss, really.Another caveat, and my only complaint, is that while they're lovely people, in some of their online responses... I'd advise them to be a little more "kissy-assy", one might say. I sent a friend here, and her experience was not great. I wish the responses to her review had been more gentle, less confrontational. An argumentative response to a negative review is so much more off-putting to potential customers than the review itself. If they ever remove those responses and start being suck-ups ;) then I'll remove this paragraph. I just want them to be loved by all the way I love them, for the *incredible* food.Service: amazing. The owner is a wonderful guy, and has even stayed open late for me on several occasions, I'd call from Ohip and tell him I'd be 20 mins later than closing. No problem. Wow!If you get it on a Sunday, it's "India on Steelers." And if your banana just un-peeled itself, then "India on Repeel." With these prices, it's more like "India on Great Deals." Or "India on Steals." I might make a movie about this truck: "India on Reels." Or it might turn me into one of those shirtless studly Bollywood guys, so my nickname could be "India on Sex Appeals."And if you eat more than 1 thing in Pitt, you may also want to try the Rib Eye Taco at Las Palmas (on Brookline), and the Gyro from Greek Gourmet or Gali's, as well as the steak sandwich at Gaucho, and the Old Bay - Wet wings at Bob's Big Shot. But if it's just 1 thing... let it be this Chicken Tikka Masala. Believe it.Anyway I've been rambling too long, I feel like I've given you the whole "India on Spiel."And if it were referring to how most Indians imagine themselves hooking up with Jessica Biel (or any one of her sisters), then it'd be "India on Biels."Whereas if it were about how emotional I get when I eat this spectacular, incomparable Chicken Tikka Masala, it'd be named "India on All-The-Feels.""

Taste of Indian Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.7 (7)

"Authentic and delicious Indian cuisine. Veggie samosa excellent as is the veggie dishes. Saga and Chana masala. Does not disappoint."

All India Authentic cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.8 (296) • $$

"I'm always happy to be here. Palak Paneer is my go to for the love of cheese and spinach. I have never been disappointed and willing to LIVE in mango chicken curry."

India Garden

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (112) • $$

"I went to the Indian Garden for lunch. It's located in a dilapidated parking lot with struggling businesses, so plenty of parking! Anyhow they offer a lunch buffet from 11-3, I believe, daily. Typically I despise buffets but since I am a novice to Indian food I thought this would be an opportunity to try different things. First time up, I did just that. A small scoop of this, some of that. I really don't know everything that I ate. There were some signs, but unless you are familiar with the cuisine it might as well be written in Hindi. There were a few recognizable things, Chicken Curry, Chilly Chicken, and Chicken in Teriyaki sauce. The rest would be words that made absolutely no sense to me, but I am adventurous so I tried most of what I saw. All in all, I enjoyed it. It wasn't something that rocked my core and made me want to rush back, but there was some good flavor in some of the dishes and a nice spice level. I would say charging $10.00 for a lunch buffet seems steep to me. I think it should be more in line with the 7-8 dollar range, and lastly I felt the dining area could use a good cleaning. There were crumbs on the seats and the table cloths were all stained. Not too appealing."

Chaai and Chaatwala

★★★★☆ 4.4 (7)

"Came back to try the veg masala sandwich. It wasn't bad, but it was too greasy/cheesy for me."

Billu's Indian Grill On Wheels

★★★★★ 4.5 (17)

"I loved the samosas from this food truck. They were spicy but not too much for my lunch break. They were served with the sweet tamarind chutney and this goes well with the spiciness level of the samosa. I got two for $5. I noticed the sign says they take american express and discover cards, not all restaurants do. I'd love to try the chana masala next time!"

Rajbhog Indian Market and cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (80) • $

"My second visit so far so good will try new things when I can and I love that it's a market as well many options and the staff was friendly and the establishment was very clean"

New India Grill

★★★★★ 5 (21)

"I cannot recommend this place enough. I have gotten take-out here several times over the last year or so and it NEVER disappoints... NEVER. My go-to's are the malai kofta or tikka masala with a side of garlic naan. Tried the butter chicken this time and it's also excellent. Whatever you order, make sure you get some naan. There's nothing like that mini comforter made of bread, used to sop up all that delicious sauce!! The owners are always so pleasant. I feel super lucky to have this gem in my neck of the woods and I hope it stays that way!"

Prince of India

★★★★☆ 3.5 (182) • $$

"Stop by for a quick lunch on a Saturday, unfortunately, there was no buffet, but we ordered off the menu. The food was flavorful, Naan was fresh and hot! Very much enjoyed this lunch :)"

Bengal Kabab House & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (197) • $$

"I love coming here for both take-out and dine-in. I usually order a vegetable samosa and the chicken/lamb korma with a garlic naan. I leave always feeling very full and happy.I think the food is reliably good and the price is relatively low.A part of the experience is that the waiter who I assume is the owner is an absolute delight. He's so attentive and nice that I want to come back to enjoy his wonderful dishes and support him.There is usually a video playing in the background on the TV so if you don't like background noise when you eat, I would absolutely suggest doing takeout."

Salem's Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (412) • $$

"This place is just incredible! Great prices, great food, fast, and friendly. I had a medium combo with chicken tikka masala (among the best I've had), saag paneer, and chicken biryani. Love that you can get a Greek salad instead of rice as well!Will absolutely be back, this place is clearly an institution for good reason."

Subba Asian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (234) • $

"I'm updating my review in celebration of Subba's new location. First, the food is absolutely amazing and authentic. If you don't know where to start, definitely order the Momo, the quintessential regional dish, and Subba has perfected it. Thukpa is an extraordinary soup dish that transcends words. Flavorful, complex and robust are true but, Thukpa is something you have to experience, and it's a perfect complement to Momo. The Thali is a lot of food, and offers a sampling of many different flavorsSecond, there are plenty of choices here for vegetarians. Most restaurants offer a single vegetarian option, Subba surpasses that by far.Third, you can order what you want, but the strengths of Subba are in the outstanding Nepalese and Bhutanese offerings. Fourth, Subba is a great value, and for example, offers free corkage.The new location offers a beautiful storefront window and updated, sleek accommodations. The other location was "charming," but distracted from the great food.Subba can get busy, especially on weekends, so show some patience. Some of the food is spicy, because that's how they roll in Nepal. There are spice guides on the menu, or you can ask for help. The owner is the kindest gentleman, and he loves feeding people and introducing people to the real deal. Consider yourself lucky if you are able to meet him.So treat yourself to experiential dining. For authenticity, vegetarian options, and delicious meals, you will not find better."

Taj Mahal

★★★★☆ 3.9 (509) • $$

"Take a ride to Flavortown.... Yes using G.F's reference is a bit cheesy, but the food at Taj Mahal is anything but. I stopped in for the lunch buffet and as soon as I walked in all my senses were tingling, and in the good way. There were 3 seperate food areas with a ton of delicious looking items. I did not know what 90% of the dishes were, but everything looked so good and the aroma was so intoxicating that I sampled every single thing they had on the line. By the time I was finished I felt like a local stepping off the train in Mumbai.All the food was absolutely delicious and each dish prepared so beautifully. The service was top notch, I never needed for anything and my server also made some excellent suggestions, as to my eating experience I would definitely go back for the buffet. Prices were good for what you got and who knew I loved goat curry, Aloha"

Tamarind Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (238) • $$

"Was running errands in Cranberry on Sunday morning and then met up a friend here to enjoy their Sunday lunch buffet. Got there when they opened at 11.30am and they were already half full, which is always a good sign.We were greeted immediately and we sat down and they provided water and a plain dosa on the table straightaway. We tried various items from the buffet and they all tasted authentic to me. The variety, quality and taste of the food is very good. They have a South Indian twist on the food, which is different to other Indian restaurants in the area that have a more North Indian flavor.My favorite here was the chicken biranyi, but everything was great. I will be back more often as it is rare to get a high quality Indian buffet on Sunday in this location for this price with great service.Had 2 glasses of the included mango drink and then had some eggless cake for dessert. The servers clear plates quickly, topped up my drink and kept the buffet fully stocked.The staff here smile and enjoy what they do and take care of their guests. I would recommend this place if you are in Cranberry, the buffet price is a bargain for what you get to choose from in the fresh buffet.I will be back for dinner to try dosa very soon. Try this place, you will not be disappointed"

Nawabi Hyderabad House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (11)

"Came in recently to try out the new Hyderabad House. I'm a big fan of Biryani, and I understood it was one of their specialties, so I was excited to try some of the menu. In addition to a biryani, we also ordered a lamb korma, bread basket of various breads, Gobi Manchurian, and mango lassi drinks. The sheer volume of bread and biryani that came out was amazing! Very generous for the price, and everything tasted great! We ordered mild biryani but it came a little hotter than I would've expected, but was still good. The lamb korma had great flavor, but unfortunately we felt like the price was steep and the meat was lacking. Several pieces appeared to just be bone even. The gobi manchurian was excellent! We really enjoyed this dish (even though it comes spicy), and it was clear that it has been freshly made-to-order. All-in-all, the food was great! This particular restaurant is located in a shared bakery and grocery location and so the ambiance is definitely lacking, and there is a lot of setting up that needs to be done, but the restaurant and eating area is definitely passable for the time being. Hopefully that gets solved soon."

Allegheny Spice Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (6)

"Sign says "Sagun Asian Restaurant" -- Food was good, tasted fresh and was well executed except for timing. Dishes we thought would come together were staggered out, lengthening the overall time we were in the restaurant. We had the Chicken Choila - tasted like a riceless biryani, not bad, a little salty. We had momo chili, a fried dumpling dish with competing flavors but overall good. We had two naans: chili and garlic. All very nice. Had "Chole Saag" (I think they mean Channa Saag?) .. good. Malai Kofta did not have carrots like other places, but it tasted good and you could actually see the paneer in it.Waiter could not tell us what "Kashmiri Naan" was other than to say "It has a different flavor" which I was like .. what? How can I decide then. When asked for a recommendation under pressure of ordering, he suggested Tandoori Chicken and I was like "nah" ... Negatives are mainly ambience and service issues. It was 1:30pm on a Sunday. Suddenly 10 people large family came in after us. Music got turned up when we arrived and it was too loud so server couldn't hear us. Server seemed unfamiliar with menu and was not always focused on us. Sometimes he would come and bypass us and ignore us. He was awkward with serving tray and didn't bus table. I think I meant to give him a low tip but ended up giving him a large tip by mistake. You have to go up to the cash register when you are done. They will not prompt you to do otherwise."

Masala House Indian Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.3 (258) • $$

"For indecisive diners, Masala House makes it easy. They have it narrowed down to two lunch choices: Vegetarian Thali plate Non-Veg Thali plateFive little bowls (refills available upon request)Tandoori chicken legGenerous basmati riceOne Galub Jamun (fried donut soaked in honey/sugar and rose water)Limitless naan5-6 dessert options - I recommend the mango mansari (?)"

Indian Curry King

★★★★☆ 4.2 (41) • $$

"First visit to this recently opened Indian restaurant, and it will not be the last. My friend and I decided to try this place out for her birthday outing, and I was concerned about making a reservation. Not to worry because the dining area is very spacious with plenty of seating. I was surprised to learn that they stay open until 11pm. Great addition to the neighborhood. We definitely needed a decent amount of time to look over the easy- to- follow menu. We opted for a variety of menu items to share. They also offer a lunch buffet from 11:30 to 4:30 worth trying. Server was very gracious, and our assorted order was nicely paced. Large portions with reasonable pricing."

Cafe Delhi

★★★★☆ 3.9 (230) • $$

"Wear your big boy pants and get ready to journey through flavortown.My boss and I met for lunch. He introduced me to Cafe Delhi. This is a place in my neck of the woods that I saw but never ventured. I will be back.I have had Indian before. I know the popular dishes and various curries. I decided to get what the server recommended. Both my boss and I had different goat dishes. The meat was tender like a pot roast. The meal served with fresh naan and rice hit the spot on a cold/wet day.Shout out to their wings. They were super addictive. They were very crunchy and had some spice. The staff was great, and the place was clean. I will be back :)"

Taste Of The Himalayas

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"This place is the real deal! We savored everything that was ordered. It was fantastic!Lamb saag, chicken choila, and lentil soup.The chef graciously stopped by our table to say hello, very thoughtful of him.The taj beer was also wonderfully chilled and refreshing.Parking could be a bit better marked because we weren't sure if there was a curb there, but overall a very good dining experience."

Masala House Indian Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (12)

"Yes GO there! My favorite is the Lassi Mango yogurt drink, so rich and some pulp. Freeze it and eat it latter yum - it is awesome! Also I love the Samosa ( deep fried, crispy flakey moist seasoned breaded potato) with nice dipping sauce ."

Coriander India Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (192) • $$

"Ordered delivery from Coriander. Love their Indian curries. And the fruity naans are also my favorite. Perfect for this snowy winter season."

Govinda's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (4)

"good authentic food. the aloo paratha looked like it was microwaved and not pan fried. it was all soft and soggy not cripsy. other than that, the rest of the food was delicious, the place was clean and service was great"

Sree's Foods

★★★★☆ 4 (87) • $

"Certainly a busy little restaurant during weekdays downtown. Always a nice selection of fresh hot Indian food, lprepared at a commissary offsite. Very reasonable prices and they have daily specials. And if you have the "Edge" card from Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, a little extra off your bill.Very clean little casual dining area and friendly staff."

Taste of India

★★★★☆ 4.2 (200) • $$

"Top-notch Indian restaurant across from Children's Hospital! I stopped by for their weekday lunch special ($15.99 for buffet with drinks included). They had soo many different options! My favorites were the tandoori chicken and vegetable samosas, but the chicken tikki masala was a close second! The complimentary mango lassi was creamy & refreshing and paired with the food well. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!!"

Kabab & Curry Restaurant & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (222) • $$

"so good!! ambiance so inviting! The food here is so delicious, a large but expert menu, with variety of styles! Really enjoy the chai too!"

Mintt Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.9 (149) • $$

"This is no kidding the best Indian food I've ever had. We were staying in Monroeville for a concert a couple months ago and ate here and I loved it so much that we drove back 2.5 hours to eat again for my Mother's Day gift this past month! Both times I got the masala dosa and I dream about it still. It was really empty both times we were there but it was a weekday. The service was quick and helpful. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in the area"

People's Indian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (222) • $$

"Delicious. Highly recommend eating in or takeout. Caution: spice level is crucial. I can handle spice generally but even a 5/10 was making me sweat. I tried 7/10 when I first ordered take out from here and couldn't eat more than a third of my order!! In comparison to other restaurants I would knock 4 or 5 levels off whatever you think. Portions and price are reasonable. You're not going there for restaurant style or ambience- it's the food. Expect a classic Indian restaurant in terms of atmosphere and food"

Mintt Pizza

★★★★☆ 3.5 (19)

"We got the paneer samosas, palak paneer pizza and chili chicken pizza and we were happy with every part of our order as well as the friendliness of the staff. Looking forward to our next visit."

Tamarind Savoring India

★★★★☆ 3.9 (224) • $$

"Wow. Where to start?We came with a larger group to celebrate our work. Many of my teammates recommended this place. Service was awesome and impeccable (I really don't use this word, to be honest). We were ordering a la carte, and some mistakes were made, but they addressed them with urgency. Perspective: We ordered many appetizers, and there was some confusion, but it was quickly addressed. The staff was quick, professional, and thorough.Food. What did we not eat? We had everything, and I am not an expert, but I took many pictures. Chicken Lollipops will slay any wings you can order. Boneless chicken (called something else) was phenomenal and spicy. Please note that I am not trying to Americanize everything but to give you an example of what it is like.We tried various dosas, some of which were like filled crepes and some like thicker pancakes. I had a goat-filled dosa and a chicken Marsala dosa that was like a pancake. You need to soak it in the sauces for enjoyment.Drinks: They have Indian beers, a full bar, and cocktails. You will see Thumbs Up, which is a rum and coke.Overall, we had an awesome time, and you should check it out. If you are confused or have questions, ask the staff. They will help you and ensure you are comfortable with what you ordered."

Sagun Asian Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.9 (16)

"So good! Try the chili Momo and the biryani!Definitely coming back anytime I'm in the South hills"

Swaagat Indian Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.6 (18)

"We just had a very special evening here, so I'm updating my review. Everything is delicious and authentic. We ordered the Mirch Naan and it was extraordinary.I wanted to try something new, so I ordered the Chicken Hakka Noodles and I was amazed by the flavor.We ordered the Momo for an appetizer and it was very good.Our server was helpful and interesting to talk with. She found out what dishes we love and then made recommendations from there.I don't come here for ambiance, but definitely for the food. There are just a limited number of tables, but frankly, a lot of people order take-out, so that leaves room for those who want to dine in.We can't wait to go back."

Indo Asian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (26) • $$

"My family and I went here on their very first day of officially being open for business. For being their first day, they did a great job. Even though they were just getting their feet wet, and things were a little slower than they'd probably hope, they did a fantastic job. The "+'s": Everything we ate was ridiculously good. We tried the garlic naan, the mango chicken, the chicken curry, chicken fried rice, and the tandoori chicken. All were phenomenal, with extra-extra special shout out to the mango chicken.The "-'s": The portion size was a little small for the price. While the food was excellent, the "amount" for a few of the items was a little small compared to their prices. This was especially true with the order of naan that we received, the tandoori chicken and it's lack of anything coming with it, and a few of the other dishes.It was definitely authentic, full of flavor, and the servers were very polite. We will definitely go again sometime, and I look forward to updating my review at that time."

Kabab King

★★★★☆ 4.4 (78)

"Very delicious, filling and reasonably priced. My first time there, and I ordered the chicken wrap and the somosas. The sauces were especially delicious.We ordered ahead for pickup, and it was ready promptly.The interior was formerly a pizza hut, it's clean, but it lacks ethnic charm"