I'm Indian-American, grew up eating home-cooked Indian food, and I've been to every Indian restaurant in the metroplex. Here's the real list.
North Indian / Punjabi:
- Tandoor (Richardson, 675 N Central Expy) — The naan comes fresh from the tandoor every 90 seconds. Butter chicken is benchmark. $13-18 entrees.
- India Palace (12817 Preston Rd, North Dallas) — Lunch buffet is the best Indian buffet in DFW. $15.99 weekday.
South Indian:
- Saravanaa Bhavan (Richardson, 101 S Coit Rd) — Dosa heaven. The masala dosa is 2 feet long. $11-14.
- Madras Pavilion (Richardson, 101 S Coit Rd) — Vegetarian South Indian. Uthappam is perfect.
Indo-Chinese:
- Chaat Corner (Richardson) — Gobi Manchurian, hakka noodles. $8-12.
Street food / Chaat:
- Mint Indian Bistro (multiple) — Pani puri and dahi puri done right.
- Bombay Chopsticks (Plano) — Pav bhaji that tastes like Mumbai street stalls.
Biryani:
- Bawarchi (multiple DFW locations) — Hyderabadi biryani. The goat biryani is the best version in DFW. $14-16.
Best value: Saravanaa Bhavan lunch thali — $12.99 for a complete meal with rice, sambar, rasam, 3 curries, dessert.
Sources:
- Google Reviews — all restaurants 4.0+ with 500+ reviews
- Eater Dallas — Indian food guide
- D Magazine — "Best Indian Restaurants"
- Dallas Morning News — ethnic dining features
India Palace lunch buffet on a Wednesday is my guilty pleasure. 14 items deep. $16 all-in.