7 Best Indian Restaurants in USA for Lip-Smacking Experience

For the lakhs of Indian students who traverse across oceans to study in the United States (USA), there's often a powerful yearning for a taste of home. Amid the bustling campuses, unfamiliar faces, and the thrill of pursuing dreams, one thing remains constant – the craving for a slice of comfort, a whiff of nostalgia, and a bite of the familiar.

So, what can keep you covered? The best Indian restaurant in the USA will not let you miss aloo ka paratha (stuffed potato bread) or homemade gajar ka halwa (sweet made with carrots)!

In this gastronomic odyssey, we'll delve deep into the spellbinding universe of Indian restaurants spread across the USA, where spices are the stars, and each bite tells a story of culture, history, and passion. Get ready to get a taste of delectable Indian food in the USA.

Also Read: Tips to Save Money While Studying Abroad 

Top 7 Indian Restaurants in USA for Indian Students 

From vada pav to butter chicken, you can relish these Indian food items in the USA. Also, it can be a unique way to establish new friendships. How? Bond over food; introduce your foreign friends to Indian cuisines in the USA. 

Here's a quick rundown of the must-try Indian restaurants in the USA:

1.  Bombay Chopsticks

Get ready to treat your taste buds with authentic Indo-Chinese cuisine! Located in Chicago, Illinois, this top Indian restaurant in the USA will surely become one of your go-to restaurants. Ingenious combo meals combine traditional noodles and ramen with Indian spices and flavors. A slew of customers claim that the Chinese food here is also authentic; it has only been spiced up ten times more than typical Chinese food. 

In addition to that, this restaurant offers a variety of other alternatives, including spring rolls, chicken mince, garlic fish, fried veggies, and fried chicken. Additionally, this is the only location that serves Indian fried chicken that has been marinated in homemade, genuine Indian spices. There is also a distinctive Indian twist in the desserts this place serves. So, if you have a sweet tooth, then you are in for a treat! 

Location: 1568 W. Ogden Ave #148, Naperville, IL 

Price Range: $10- $25 (₹832 – ₹2,079)

Must Try: Meatballs & Chicken Dragon Rolls

2. Chai Pani

This Atlanta, Georgia-based restaurant is well-known for its breakfast menu, which includes a number of traditional Indian dishes to get your day off to the best possible start. The primary emphasis in this restaurant is on Indian street food. And because a home-cooked meal is the most reassuring and delectable food in any culture, Chai Pani offers you thalis. These showcase India's incredible culinary diversity. In addition to them, there are traditional street-style sandwiches.

Location: 22 Battery Park Ave, Asheville 

Price Range: Moderate 

Must Try: Iranian Chai 

3. Spice Room – Neighborhood Indian Bistro

If you thought that you would have to leave your love for gol gappe/puchka/pani puri back in India, then hold your horses. This place is ready to give you a mouthful of flavor burst. 

A few friends opened Neighborhood Indian restaurant in Denver, Colorado, in July 2017. It was initially a tiny restaurant with vegan, vegetarian, street cuisine, and gluten-free alternatives. Curry lovers come to Spice Room because of its dedication to high-quality recipes. This place should be on the brim of your restaurant exploration list.

Location: Spice Room 3157 W 38th Ave Denver

Price Range: $10 – $30 (₹832 – ₹2,496)

Must Try: Masala Chai(Spice Tea), Aloo Bhindi Bhujiya, Samosa Chat

4. Rasika Flavors of India 

This well-known neighborhood restaurant and tourist destination in Washington, D.C., Rasika West End and Rasika Penn Quarter, serves the best modern Indian cuisine and has even satisfied the appetite of former President Barack Obama. With nouveau dishes like lobster pulao and apple jalebi beignets, it's a delight for every foodie. The culinary skills of chefs here enable an unforgettable experience for the diners’ palates. Moreover, this place makes Indian food in the USA an affordable option.

Location: 633 D Street, NW Washington, DC

Price Range: $10 – $36 (₹832 – ₹2,994)

Must Try: Cauliflower Bezule, Purple Potato Dosa, & Tandoori Chicken Tikka

5. Bollywood Theatre

The unique selling point of this restaurant, which is situated in Portland, Oregon, is its setting, which turns the area into a classic Indian Dhaba on the side of the road. Typical Bollywood movie tunes frequently play in the background. This business has a lot to offer in terms of flavor and menu options when it comes to cuisine. The restaurant offers a wide selection of meals, many inspired by Mumbai's local cuisine in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Location: 3010 SE Division St, Portland

Price Range: Moderate

Must Try: Mango Lasso, Makhani, and Chicken Curry 

6. Adda Indian Canteen (Queens, NYC)

This eatery, located in Queens in the vibrant metropolis of New York, was created to satisfy appetites for Indian food. This restaurant offers various Indian cuisines, from traditional dishes like butter chicken to fusion dishes like Indian bowls inspired by Chipotle. To eat at one of the best Indian restaurants in America, you need to travel to the center of Long Island City, to be precise. So, be prepared for some traffic when you travel to the restaurant. However, once you arrive, you may experience the genuine Indian atmosphere. Your desire for some tandoori chicken will be whetted by the aromas you catch.

Location: 31-31 Thomson Ave, Queens, NY 

Price Range: $5 – $17 (₹416 – ₹1,414)

Must Try: Lotus Kofta 

7. Spice Symphony

From offering ‘Delhi ki Chaat’ (New Delhi Chaat) to Indian Chinese, Spice Symphony stands true to its name. A group of creative people with the goal of delivering nuanced flavors of food by utilizing a “grandmotherly” approach to cooking opened the restaurant in late 2012.

This Indian restaurant in America also offers Chinese Bhel, a variation of the renowned Indian street food bhel puri, and a type of Indian cuisine that enthusiastically adopts Chinese tastes for peculiar and frequently amazing purposes. This cuisine can be traced back to Kolkata's Chinatown. Equally, implausibly good is the spinach chaat. It is the best option for anyone indifferent to the vegetable but enamored of the texture of waffle fries. 

Location: 150 East 50th Street, New York

Cost: Moderate 

Must Try: Chicken Malai Seekh, Paneer Makhani, Manchow Soup 

Note: Price range is subject to change.

Indian students get the chance to explore more than food trucks with these affordable Indian restaurants. These culinary experiences will make you feel more connected to your motherland, even in a foreign land. Don't hold back; let the foodie inside you be satisfied!

Also Read: Tips to Stay Healthy and Fit while Studying Abroad