If you love the sound of an authentic butter chicken, warm and cheesy naan, or a classic lamb Rogan josh, then these Indian restaurants in Melbourne should be at the top of your list.
From authentic and traditional flavours to dishes with a modern Australian spin, there’s something for every lover of the cuisine here. So step up and get ready to set off on a foodie adventure around Melbourne.
Enter Via Laundry
Chef Helly Raichura got the idea for Enter Via Laundry when she used to host dinners from her home. Guests from all across Melbourne entered the dining room through her laundry, and the passion project quickly grew in popularity.
Soon, Helly was opening a cosy restaurant in Carlton, which continues to offer a homely dining experience. This hidden gem, accessible through a small alleyway, is all about delivering an intimate dining adventure, in a warm and welcoming space decorated with Indian and Aboriginal art.
Guests can choose from two menu options: a five course or a ten course set dinner. The menu rotates regularly, celebrating a different region of India each time. Think local cuisine from Goa, Kerala, Kashmir, Bengal, Parsi and Rajasthan that transports you right to the streets, royal kitchens and jungles of the region. The menu also celebrates top Australian ingredients, blending traditional cooking techniques with fresh produce.
The current menu, from the Rajasthan area, includes delicious dishes such as seasonal fish with paperbark and macadamia korma, as well as a dessert from the Mewar community combining corn, saffron, native ribeeries, thyme, caramel and rice.
For a more relaxed dining experience, stop by the BAR from Wednesday to Saturday for wine, cocktails and bar snacks. The extensive list of signature drinks offer traditional Indian tastes, all designed by Tom McHugh.
Daughter In Law
Daughter in Law is not your typical Indian joint. Instead, the bright and colourful restaurant is known for serving up “unauthentic” Australian Indian cuisine.Both venues – one in South Yarra and the other on Little Bourke Street in the CBD – boast a funky atmosphere with blue velvet booths, neon lights and colourful artworks.
The menu is truly unique. Tuck into a bowl of Indian fried chicken served with pickles, chilli oil and spicy mayo, then move on to dosa waffles with crispy rice, spiced potatoes and coconut chutney. The restaurant also serves a number of delicious curries, including unauthentic butter chicken, lamb rogan josh and tikka masala.
If you can’t decide where to start, opt for the reasonably priced tasting menu, which includes a range of street food starters, curries, rice, raita, naan and dessert for only $75 per person. Make sure to pair your meal with the fun and funky cocktails, with standouts such as a Bengali gimlet, dirty lassi and Indian hard lemonade.
Tonka
Tucked away behind graffitied walls just off Flinders Lane, Tonka is a one-hat restaurant blending modern Indian flavours with European influences, all designed around fresh local ingredients.
The venue itself was designed by award-winning Technē architects, with ceiling artwork by Naomi Troski and an open-plan dining room complete with soft lighting.
Start your night with roasted pumpkin and butter bean puree, then move on to a paneer tikka with mango chutney, and tuck into a confit duck leg Mangalorean curry with preserved dates and walnuts. Or, if you’re overwhelmed by choice, enjoy the $100 set menu which includes five incredible courses, as well as butter naan.
Or, from Tuesday to Friday, stop by the Thali Bar for a delicious lunch served with dal, raita, rice, naan and a wombok salad on a traditional plate from $29 per person.
Tonka regularly hosts special events, including the ever-popular winemaker lunches, where local winemakers are invited to share their stories and pour their wines for guests while the chefs curate a menu to compliment the tasting notes of each drop.
Atta
Atta has been awarded an Australian Good Food Guide hat for four consecutive years, placing it amongst the top one percent of Australia’s restaurants. It was founded by Harry Dhanjal and Brij Patel, who set out to take Indigenous and classic dishes from every corner of India and reinvent them with a modern twist.
The main dining room overlooks Victoria Street, with antique French oak panelling and limited seating for an intimate experience. The Mezzanine, which overlooks the dining room and the open kitchen, is a great place to book for guests who want to interact with the head chef. It is also decorated with French oak panelling, colourful artwork and arch windows.
The four-course dinner menu changes every season to reflect the local produce. Current favourites include the Golgappa, a crispy-fried puffed ball with potato, black chickpeas and mango reduction, as well as the beef vindaloo, which is tender beef marinated in vindaloo masala, and served with tempered mustard, sun-dried chilli, onion and tomato gravy. Guests are welcome to pair their meal with a glass from the extensive wine list, or bring a bottle along with them from Tuesday to Thursday only.
Punjabi Curry Cafe
Located in Collingwood, Punjabi Curry Cafe focuses on North Indian cuisine made with fresh ingredients and served by friendly staff.
The extensive menu has been designed around the kitchen’s tandoor oven, which is visible from the dining area. This means you can watch the chefs preparing curries and naan all night long, while dining on tandoori chicken, beef rogan josh, fish curry and cheese naan. Or, choose the Feed Me Menu for a full-course Indian dining experience featuring a selection of entrees, mains, sides and desserts, and a glass of wine.
There’s also a happy hour every day from 5pm to 7pm, where you can enjoy a glass of beer or wine for $7, and two cocktails for $25. Guests are also welcome to BYO (wine only) to take their meal to the next level.
Mukka Indian Restaurant
With three restaurants across the Melbourne area, Mukka Indian Restaurant has already made its mark as one of the best places for authentic Indian delights. Each venue is all about bright colours, Bollywood tunes and art, so you and your friends will always have a good time.
The menu includes viral naan rolls loaded with curry, street eats, kebabs, curry pots and a dedicated kids’ menu. There are also weekly specials, including a curry with rice for $18.90 on Mondays, two curries, bottomless rice and a jumbo naan for $48.90 on Tuesdays and a vegan chaat platter with a jar of house cocktail for $49.90 on Thursdays.
Or, choose to try a traditional tiffin box – a multi-tiered container used to transport hot meals for work or school – loaded with four layers of meat, snacks and carbs for $26.90 from 4-7pm on weekdays.
If this all sounds too good to choose from, each Mukka venue has a Feed Me Menu, which includes a number of entrees, mains, sides and a dessert.
3 Idiots
Owned by a husband-and-wife duo who grew up in Mumbai, 3 Idiots serves authentic Indian dishes with a contemporary edge. The pair opened the restaurant to honour the mothers who taught them to cook.
Each dish served in the vibrant dining room is inspired by classic home recipes and paired with the finest local ingredients. The hope is that diners will taste the nostalgia behind every bite and be taken on a journey through India.
Crowd-pleasers include masala fries, tossed in masala seasoning and served with dehydrated pomegranate oil, as well as narangi duck curry with tomato and orange gravy, and kulfi, a classic dessert made from un-churned ice cream infused with saffron, almond and pistachios.
Make sure to pair your dinner with unique cocktails, including a spiked mango lassi, bandra sour and Mumbai mule.
Ish
Ish brings the bold flavours of India to Melbourne, with modern plates, bold cocktails and an atmospheric dining room welcome to all. Located in Fitzroy, the restaurant was created to reimagine Indian dining for the trendy local scene, putting a modern spin on favourite dishes.
Start with roti duck tacos, served with Malabari paratha, crispy chicken skin and caramelised onion. Then, share some paneer angara skewers with the table, which are charred cottage cheese cubes cooked in a clay oven and served with lasun yogurt marinade and charred onion. Finally, order a main of mango barramundi curry, served with young mango cubes, tempered mustard and curry leaf.
For a more indulgent experience, the chefs have created custom five and seven course meals, which offer a taste of all the most popular dishes and can be paired with a selection of popular wines.
If you enjoyed this story about Indian restaurants in Melbourne, check out our story about top vegetarian restaurants in the city.
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