When we talk about Indian food, we’re not just talking about one cuisine. We’re actually referring to a subcontinent’s worth of regional cuisines that are largely influenced by geography and culture.
In the northern part of the country, for example, you’ll find dishes like aloo gobi, while in the south you might find dosas and vadas. Though many restaurants offer Northern Indian cuisine, Atlanta has a lot to offer, and recent years have brought fun, new, more specialized offerings. Here are a few must-try spots serving Indian food in Atlanta.
Vatica Indian Cuisine
Marietta
Vatica is an Atlanta institution and has a little bit of everything on the menu. Snack on garlic naan, samosa, and dahi puri, before having a feast of aloo gobi, vegetable biryani, and the tandoori sizzler. Sweet tooth? Don’t skip the gulab jamun—balls formed of milk solids and flour soaked in a rose sugar syrup.
Dash and Chutney
West Midtown
Palak Patel – you might recognize her from Beat Bobby Flay – moved back to her hometown of Atlanta after living in New York. She opened a stall in the Chattahoochee Food Works where blessed Atlantans can feast on her vegan dishes inspired by her childhood. Must-try items include the Indian falafel stuffed with peas and coconut topped with tamarind, green, and yogurt chutneys and the samosa chaat, a bowl with potato-stuffed samosas topped with chana masala and mango powder.
Tabla
Midtown and Buckhead
Tabla is a reliable choice for a modern take on Indian classics. Both the Midtown and Buckhead dining rooms are chic locales for an evening of tasty food and clever cocktails like the Tabla mule with mango chutney, lime, and ginger. They also have thoughtful nonalcoholic drinks, such as the strawberry kala khatta with kale khatta syrup, roasted cumin seeds, tamarind, chaat masala, and lime juice. Go with friends and order a bunch of small plates such as samosas, Brussels sprouts bhel.
Chat Patti
Decatur
What the dining room lacks in frills is more than made up for with delicious food from different regions at this Decatur spot that’s been around for over 20 years. Try a veggie thali deluxe for a few different bites at once or the Chat Patti special chatt—a nacho-like dish with flour chips topped with ingredients like deep fried rice, pomegranate seeds, yogurt, and a lentil donut.
Bhojanic
Piedmont Heights
Though Bhojanic had to close its popular Buckhead restaurant during the pandemic, Atlantans can still delight in Archna Becker’s creative offerings via takeout and delivery. Standouts include tandoori pizza with chutney marinara and mozzarella cheese and veg-biryani bowls.
Masti
North Druid Hills
Masti means fun in Hindi, and it’s an apt name for this Indian street food restaurant with its splashy interior. The fun doesn’t stop at the decor, though, with dishes like butter tacos and pasta 65.
Chai Pani
Decatur
Meherwan Irani recently shook things up at his Decatur location of Chai Pani when he revamped the menu with dishes from the state of Gujarat. The new menu offers rustic, homey delights that take comfort food to a new level. Try the locho, a grit-like lentil dish with green chutney, butter, onions, and cilantro and fried green tomato pakora. Sip a lime rickey alongside your dinner for ultimate refreshment.
Curry Up Now
Alpharetta, Reynoldstown, Decatur
Curry Up Now is a chain, but it’s worthy of consideration if you find yourself hungry for Indian street food, especially downtown Alpharetta. Standouts on the menu include “sexy fries” with sweet potato fries topped with cheese and a protein and the quesadillix, a take on a Punjabi treat with stuffed paratha, mozzarella, protein, pickles, chaat masala yogurt, and chutney.
Himalayas Indian Restaurant
Chamblee
This Chamblee spot is a classic and has recently re-opened for dine-in service. Come for the classics like garlic naan, and Paneer tikka masala.
(Text and Image Courtesy: Thrillest)
