Finding the best Indian food can mean many things. For some, it’s about that perfect butter chicken that transports you to Delhi. For others, it might mean discovering a hidden gem where the naan is still warm from the tandoor. In Flushing, the quest is real—and delicious. Here are the 20 spots that make it worth every bite.
Kamala Kitchen
$ | (718) 540-4626 | WEBSITE
Kamala Kitchen is the underdog choice on this list, so don’t worry if you haven’t heard of it before (if you have, it’s possible you’ve already thought about having your next family meal here). This is a very casual neighborhood spot in Flushing that serves affordable and very good Bengali food, but is also somewhat of a home kitchen.
Even on days when you’re not craving Kolkata street fare, Kamala Kitchen feels like a celebration (the chef-owner likes to greet everyone who comes in with a warm smile and genuine hospitality).
There will likely be people enjoying fresh snacks like fish fry and mochar chop at the counter, but there’s a cozy dining area you can settle into (this is the living room of restaurant experiences) and plenty of tables in the back for your group to share chicken curry, vegetarian options with rice, and those immaculate Bengali sweets.
INDAY All Day
$$ | (332) 228-1566 | WEBSITE
If you’re craving Indian-American fusion in a bright, comfortable Flushing space while you sip creative cocktails like a Chai Martini or spicy mango margarita, your top choice is INDAY All Day. It’s where you can do all of these things – just know it’s ideal for large group brunches or casual dining. You’ll likely enjoy the airy atmosphere (and you should come ready to share), but the food will definitely be worth it.
Order some Chicken Biryani, Garlic Naan, sweet & spicy cauliflower, and whatever else catches your eye. Nothing breaks the bank, and the space itself is cool and welcoming.
Javitri
$$ | (212) 206-7575 | WEBSITE
A crucial detail for anyone planning a gathering: you can reserve the cozy back section of Javitri for a private dinner without needing to order a set menu or pay additional charges. There’s a traditional tandoor oven in the kitchen, all of the classic Indian dishes from the regular menu like chicken tikka masala, lamb shank, and garlic naan, and you can relax with your party (up to 10 people you genuinely enjoy spending time with) for as long as you like.
But private section or not, having your celebration at Javitri is the quickest way to recreate that warm, memorable dining experience in a manner that’s both authentic and far from generic.
Mint Heights
$$ | (718) 237-4008 | WEBSITE
You’re craving authentic Indian food in Flushing. Flavor-focused, budget-friendly dinners with friends are still very much part of the weekend routine. If you’d like to embrace that craving, go to Mint Heights. We’ve walked in with a group of eight here on a Saturday evening without calling ahead and still found a cozy table, so this is perfect for a spontaneous “let’s get Indian food” plan.
There’s warm, complimentary papadum with chutneys, delicious $12.99 chicken curry, and the dining area has soft lighting and traditional artwork, comfortable booths, and families and friends enjoying the same comforting dishes you are.
Spice & Grill The Indian Kitchen
$$ | (718) 875-2525 | WEBSITE
For people craving authentic Nepali and Indian flavors (or those who just want a reliably delicious meal), Spice & Grill The Indian Kitchen is a great neighborhood spot on Myrtle Ave in Brooklyn. This recently remodeled restaurant is perfect for a relaxed lunch or dinner where the atmosphere is warm and inviting. There are delicate chicken momos with tangy red sauce, flavorful curries, and well-loved items like chicken tikka and garlic naan to share.
You could definitely have a quick bite here (the service is attentive and the prices are reasonable), but it’s at its best when you settle in for a full meal like the veg thali or chicken thali with paneer, dal, and gulab jamun.
Aanch
$$ | (718) 831-1111 | WEBSITE
Aanch could honestly work just as well for a quiet date as it will for your medium-loud birthday dinner. You and your friends might make the people on quiet dates pretty mad, but you won’t be paying attention to that because there’s chicken makhani and gobi manchurian in front of you. This is one of our go-to places for casual atmosphere with nice ambiance. Just know that it’s busy and welcomes pets, so we’d recommend making a reservation for a big group.
Cardamom Indian Cuisine
$$ | (718) 706-9718 | WEBSITE
Get to Cardamom Indian Cuisine early enough (before, maybe 7pm), and you should be able to claim a table for a little family dinner. If you’re feeling adventurous, order the Goan Fish or Tandoori Shrimp, or, it happens to be a cold night, just go for the Lamb Vindaloo and Garlic Naan.
This restaurant is in a bustling part of Sunnyside, it has some nice lighting and comfortable booths, and, like other authentic spots, it’s a place you go to have a great meal and enjoy flavors that may or may not blow your mind.
Darbar Grill
$$ | (212) 751-4600 | WEBSITE
Darbar Grill is a very 10-year-favorite Indian restaurant in Midtown East. If you’re looking for a special occasion spot or just craving great Indian food, then Darbar Grill is an easy first choice for your meal. Or you could just tell everyone to meet here and not worry about the menu at all (or have a secret, smaller order without alerting the table).
There’s a main dining area with warm lighting, comfortable seating, and a welcoming atmosphere, and a service team that’s professional and attentive throughout. You won’t be able to resist the flavors, but that won’t matter because you’re here to eat and enjoy complimentary rice pudding called ‘sweet ending.’
Indika House
$$ | (718) 484-3600 | WEBSITE
Maybe on your last night out, you grabbed a quick slice, stood on a crowded street corner, and wondered why you bothered leaving your apartment. This time, try Indika House. It’s an Indian restaurant, but it isn’t the sort of place where you feel rushed or anonymous, and it feels sort of like a cozy little dining room that happens to serve incredibly flavorful food. You can also get a generous takeout deal ahead of time, if you want your own little feast for later.
Tandoori Place
$ | (718) 550-4062 | WEBSITE
Tandoori Place has been a local favorite for years now. It’s still fantastic, however, and the key elements remain the same: the goat curry is still incredibly tender, the butter chicken is still rich and flavorful, and the garlic naan is still perfectly fluffy. You might order the saag paneer, the lamb biryani, or the chicken samosas, and there’s a cozy dining area in the back where you can probably just relax and enjoy.
Also, prices are pretty fair, and you can always just grab takeout while you savor the amazing chai.
Spice Symphony
$$ | (212) 300-4869 | WEBSITE
If you’re craving Indian food, Spice Symphony works perfectly for a dinner out. It’s cozy, there are flavorful dishes like chili chicken and eggplant in coconut curry, and there’s a classy atmosphere where you can enjoy a special meal without having to travel far. The service is also exceptionally attentive, with staff going above and beyond to accommodate dietary preferences. It’s like a hidden gem, full of satisfied customers savoring every bite while they appreciate the great value.
Atithi Indian Cuisine
$$ | (718) 684-9192 | WEBSITE
Atithi Indian Cuisine is perfect for groups, authentic enough for your friends who suddenly became Indian food connoisseurs, and serves excellent curries. The dining room features traditional Indian décor with vibrant colors and feels like the right amount of cozy-vibrant (if that’s what you’re looking for). Just know that Atithi runs a bit pricier than some other spots in Flushing, but if the food itself is what matters to you, this is one of the top choices for a satisfying meal.
Kuttanadan Indian Restaurant
$$ | (718) 343-3939 | WEBSITE
Grabbing lunch here is an easy way to tell the world you appreciate authentic flavors and generous hospitality. You’ve been saying “I need to explore more Indian food” a lot recently and Kuttanadan is a good place to start, for a few reasons: it’s in Flushing (aka near other great spots you already know you like), they serve excellent curries and perfect spice levels, and the Friday buffet gets pretty lively around noon.
Beware that the lunch buffet can be sneaky filling, but it’s your cheat day and exploring more Indian food is going to be the best decision ever.
Eggholic – Indian Veg & Egg Street Food
$ | (718) 413-5432 | WEBSITE
Much like a bustling Mumbai street and a comforting home kitchen, Eggholic works for pretty much any kind of craving. It’s a cozy, welcoming space with vibrant Bollywood decor and plenty of authentic aromas. It’s sort of like a lively Indian market stall but with proper seating, and if you have family or friends you can gather at a clean table and enjoy the desi vibes.
There are also a few standout dishes, so everyone can savor the flavors and say nice things about the spice levels in the reviews.
Rudraks
This is an Indian restaurant on the Upper West Side that’s more notable for its warm hospitality than the actual food they serve. The food is consistently delicious, but the friendly neighborhood vibe is why you come here for your casual weeknight dinner. No but seriously, there are more welcoming smiles here than there are in the entire UWS during December. Also, it’s reasonably priced, offers a great lunch special, and very casual.
Come here for a comforting meal with a vibrant community feel, but not as big of a production as some of the more formal spots in the area.
Veerays
$$$ | (646) 429-8398 | WEBSITE
Veerays is an upscale Indian restaurant in Flushing that feels like a chic, modern lounge with dim lighting, sleek decor, and a cool, sexy vibe perfect for date night or a group outing. You can savor authentic dishes like butter chicken, camel seekh kebabs, and garlic naan, plus creative twists like Madame Makhani and the Don’s Lamb Chops. The evening will be sophisticated and a little indulgent, but that’s what special nights are for.
Green Chilli
$ | (347) 365-4497 | WEBSITE
Green Chilli is where you go for a casual meal with a few of the kind people who will, at some point during the evening, take turns sharing their favorite dishes from the menu (this practice is called a Flavor Circle, by the way). It’s cozy to the point you’ll want to linger, does great chole bhature and chicken biryani, and has some of the better mango lassi you can find in Flushing.
The staff lets you try as many samosas as you want until you find the one you like (they’re all the same affordable price) and service is quick, so there’s no mess dealing with takeout orders that could interrupt the nice things you said about the malai kofta during the Flavor Circle.
Mumbai Place
$$ | (718) 398-7776 | WEBSITE
We wouldn’t say it’s fine dining, but Mumbai Place definitely isn’t pretentious. It’s just a big, open-air space in Flushing where you can get reasonably priced Indian food and hang with a large group. So if you’re going out with a bunch of people in Queens, this is a great place to start your evening. Hang out for an hour or two, then go do something else (or stay all night). It gets pretty lively, and you’ll probably see at least one other family enjoying the butter chicken.
De Tandoori Knight
$ | (347) 763-0203 | WEBSITE
Flushing isn’t an especially upscale neighborhood, but at De Tandoori Knight you and all your friends can spend around $35 on dinner, then move on to whatever it is you’re doing with the rest of your evening. It’s also a pretty compact space, and there’s a dining area in the back with clean white walls and a few cozy tables.
So if you’re going out in Queens and you need some solid Indian in a casual setting where you can drink a mango lassi and enjoy the fact that your friends won’t complain about the portions, De Tandoori Knight is where you should go.
Ayna Agra
$$ | (516) 307-2472 | WEBSITE
This place is a hidden gem, a culinary destination, and a warm welcome all at once, and it’s certainly a step above the experience at your typical Indian spot (it’s your craving for authenticity, after all). There might be chicken tikka masala, sweet and creamy, or aromatic biryanis, or beef karma and chicken vibdaloo. If any of those things sound appealing to you, it’s because your foodie friends were right about you: you’re in Queens and very hungry.