These 8 NYC Indian Restaurants Are Among The Country's Best

KIPS BAY, NY — When it comes to Indian Food New Yorkers know to flock to Curry Hill, the subsection of Rose Hill crammed with affordable grub and endless buffets, but some of the city's best South Asian eats can be found in restaurants across the city at spots more likely to be frequented by cabbies than celebrities, according to a new roundup by the The Daily Meal.

An impressive eight New York City eateries landed on the website's annual roundup of the country's 25 best Indian restaurants with locations in neighborhoods across Manhattan and Queens from upscale restaurants featured in The New York Times to a shop born out of a Hindu temple.

The Daily Meal combed through thousands of restaurant reviews from the culinary world and rankings from sites including Yelp and TripAdvisor for the most well-loved spots by locals and out-of-towners.

The dining atmosphere and quality of service was not crucial to which eateries made the cut, instead the website zeroed in on delicious South Asian fare whether it came out of an upscale kitchen or a hole-in-the-wall gem.

Dhaba, 108 Lexington Ave. in Kips Bay, Manhattan

Vegetarians and vegans alike will be pleased the dishes at Dhaba. Must-try meals include kurkuri bhindi, pahadi murgh kabab, chili onion naan, goat kadai and the highway lassi, according to The Daily Meal. Expect long lines if you visit during the lunch rush.

Ganesh Temple Canteen, 45-57 Bowne St. in Flushing, Queens

The Hindu Temple Society of North America, commonly known as the Ganesh Temple, opened up a canteen in 1998 with the purpose of making food offerings for deities at the temple. Since then it has earned a reputation for otherworldly bites. Well known dishes include idli, vada pav, upma and an array of dosas, says The Daily Meal.

Haandi, 113 Lexington Ave. in Kips Bay, Manhattan

Patrons won't find fancy decor here but there's no shortage of flavor-packed food. Customers must come armed with their orders in advance, as the menu offers no explanation on what the foods are. The Daily Meal recommends biryani, fresh naan, paya or chapli kebab.

Indian Accent, 123 W. 56th St. in Midtown, Manhattan

This New Delhi restaurant is known for its twists on traditional dishes in an Instagram-friendly format. The chicken malai tikka is a must, according to The Daily Meal.

Junoon, 27 W. 24th St. in Chelsea, Manhattan

Junoon was awarded a Michelin star for the seventh year in a row in 2017. High-end takes on traditional dishes include putting octopus tentacles in the tandoor and serving them with arugula, marcona almonds and mango vinaigrette, The Daily Meal notes.

Kabab King, 7301 37th Rd. in Jackson Heights, Queens

Tucked in Jackson Heights' Little Bangladesh, Kabab King has become one of the boroughs most popular spots for South Asian eats since opening in 1996. The Daily Meal suggests biryani, chicken tikkas and seekh kebabs.

The MasalaWala, 179 Essex St. in Lower East Side, Manhattan

The shop's name essentially means "the spice guy" in Hindi and Urdu, which is a nod to the restaurant's founder Roni Mazumdar’s father, Satyen. Much of the menu is a creative take on home cooking inspired from the founder's family, according to The Daily Meal.

Tamarind Tribeca, 99 Hudson St. in Tribeca, Manhattan

This fine dining spot fuses South Asian cuisine and Tribeca's upscale vibe for memorable meals. The Daily Meal recommend lobster masala, sirkha gosht and saag paneer.

A plate of chicken tikka masala. (Photo courtesy of Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)