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12 spots to fill up on chicken tikka, chaats, dosas, and more
Philadelphia is a lucky place: Throughout the city’s neighborhoods and its surrounding area, hungry diners are never far from an Indian restaurant. While it’s much easier to find northern Indian food, like tikka masala and tandoori chicken, it’s also possible to dig into dishes from other regions of the country, including dosas and kati rolls. Plus, find crunchy, savory chaats and a few all-you-can-eat buffets.
Read MoreOutside of the city, Saffron has restaurants in Bala Cynwyd, Wayne, and Ambler. Each location is bright and pleasant, making it a good date night spot to share dishes like chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, and tandoori lamb chops.
On N. Broad near Temple’s campus, Saffron Indian Cuisine (not to be confused with Saffron Indian Kitchen) offers up biryani, roti, and tandoor-cooked dishes, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Order the salt lassi on the side.
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With several locations throughout the Philly region, Tiffin is a local standby that’s popular for both dining in and delivery (it actually started as a web-based, delivery-only restaurant). Regulars rave about the butter chicken, saag paneer, and chicken korma. Try the samosa chaat as an appetizer.
Philly vegans love Ekta for the clearly labeled meat- and dairy-free dishes — like veggie samosas and lentil-based offerings — on its menu. The Fishtown location is a favorite for ordering delivery, and the West Philly location has an affordable buffet with plenty of vegetarian dishes.
The all-day buffet at University City’s New Dehli is perfect for college students looking to fill up for $14 during lunch or $18 during dinnertime. At the steam table, find vegetarian, chicken, and lamb specialties, plus appetizers, sides, rice, and dessert.
While International Foods & Spices is technically a grocery store, it’s the perfect place to stock up on goods for your at-home South Asian feast while also eating hot samosas and other dishes cooked in-house. The samosas are flaky and filling and are a perfect snack to munch on while you shop.
In Center City, Veda is a truly elegant Indian restaurant. The ceilings are high, the service is friendly, and the see-and-be-seen bar mixes up not-to-miss drinks, like the Drunken Lassi with mango yogurt and aged rum (along with a solid selection of nonalcoholic cocktails). The lassoni gobi — fried cauliflower in a tangy, bright red tomato and ginger glaze — is a must-order appetizer.
Amma’s is a Philly staple, with aloo bonda served with cooling coconut chutney, idli dipped into sambar, masala dosa, and lamb chettinad (a long-cooked lamb dish spiced with coconut and ginger). The Couple’s Combo, which includes chicken and mutton biryani, chicken kuruma, parotta, raitha, raitha, and dessert, is perfect for date night night out or in.
In Old City, Karma has been serving up Indian fare since 2003. There’s also a full bar and a lunchtime buffet. Order the assorted bread basket for the table and one of the sizzling tandoori dishes.
West Philly’s Desi Chaat specializes in the savory, street food-style snacks of northern India. There’s a wide variety of chaats here, with different mixes of thin, crisp bread, chickpeas, potatoes, and proteins, topped with chutneys and yogurt sauce.
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A short drive from Philly in Maple Shade, New Jersey, Palace of Asia is a local favorite. The restaurant is serene, with a fountain trickling and soft Indian music playing in the background. Try the paneer dishes, tandoori chicken, chickpea-based chana masala, samosas, and the fried veggie snack called pakoras.
Amid the hustle and bustle of South Street, Lovash is a calm retreat with a large menu of classic Indian dishes. Carb-lovers, rejoice: More than a dozen types of tandoor-baked bread, including naan and roti, are available.
Outside of the city, Saffron has restaurants in Bala Cynwyd, Wayne, and Ambler. Each location is bright and pleasant, making it a good date night spot to share dishes like chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, and tandoori lamb chops.
On N. Broad near Temple’s campus, Saffron Indian Cuisine (not to be confused with Saffron Indian Kitchen) offers up biryani, roti, and tandoor-cooked dishes, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Order the salt lassi on the side.
With several locations throughout the Philly region, Tiffin is a local standby that’s popular for both dining in and delivery (it actually started as a web-based, delivery-only restaurant). Regulars rave about the butter chicken, saag paneer, and chicken korma. Try the samosa chaat as an appetizer.
Philly vegans love Ekta for the clearly labeled meat- and dairy-free dishes — like veggie samosas and lentil-based offerings — on its menu. The Fishtown location is a favorite for ordering delivery, and the West Philly location has an affordable buffet with plenty of vegetarian dishes.
The all-day buffet at University City’s New Dehli is perfect for college students looking to fill up for $14 during lunch or $18 during dinnertime. At the steam table, find vegetarian, chicken, and lamb specialties, plus appetizers, sides, rice, and dessert.
While International Foods & Spices is technically a grocery store, it’s the perfect place to stock up on goods for your at-home South Asian feast while also eating hot samosas and other dishes cooked in-house. The samosas are flaky and filling and are a perfect snack to munch on while you shop.
In Center City, Veda is a truly elegant Indian restaurant. The ceilings are high, the service is friendly, and the see-and-be-seen bar mixes up not-to-miss drinks, like the Drunken Lassi with mango yogurt and aged rum (along with a solid selection of nonalcoholic cocktails). The lassoni gobi — fried cauliflower in a tangy, bright red tomato and ginger glaze — is a must-order appetizer.
Amma’s is a Philly staple, with aloo bonda served with cooling coconut chutney, idli dipped into sambar, masala dosa, and lamb chettinad (a long-cooked lamb dish spiced with coconut and ginger). The Couple’s Combo, which includes chicken and mutton biryani, chicken kuruma, parotta, raitha, raitha, and dessert, is perfect for date night night out or in.
In Old City, Karma has been serving up Indian fare since 2003. There’s also a full bar and a lunchtime buffet. Order the assorted bread basket for the table and one of the sizzling tandoori dishes.
West Philly’s Desi Chaat specializes in the savory, street food-style snacks of northern India. There’s a wide variety of chaats here, with different mixes of thin, crisp bread, chickpeas, potatoes, and proteins, topped with chutneys and yogurt sauce.
A short drive from Philly in Maple Shade, New Jersey, Palace of Asia is a local favorite. The restaurant is serene, with a fountain trickling and soft Indian music playing in the background. Try the paneer dishes, tandoori chicken, chickpea-based chana masala, samosas, and the fried veggie snack called pakoras.
Amid the hustle and bustle of South Street, Lovash is a calm retreat with a large menu of classic Indian dishes. Carb-lovers, rejoice: More than a dozen types of tandoor-baked bread, including naan and roti, are available.
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