clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

The 16 Hottest New Restaurants in Los Angeles, June 2023

16 Essential Beverly Hills Restaurants

The 14 Hottest Cocktail Spots in Los Angeles

More in Los Angeles See more maps
An overhead shot of a thali combination steel tray with a variety of Indian foods.
Dishes from Tulsi Indian Eatery.
Tulsi Indian Eatery

18 Flavorful Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Los Angeles

From the subcontinent to Southern California, these are some of the best spots for South Asian food

by Eater Staff Updated
16 comments / new
View as Map
Dishes from Tulsi Indian Eatery.
| Tulsi Indian Eatery
by Eater Staff Updated
16 comments / new

Southern California’s South Asian restaurants are abundant, though some of the best might require a short trek to Artesia, the South Bay, or the San Fernando Valley. Wherever you’re seeking out South Asian food, one thing is certain — it travels well and reheats beautifully the following morning or (if we’re being honest) in the middle of the night. And while not always dominant in every dish, South Asian spice can be turned up to palate-blistering levels, though the diner always dictates exactly how high. If the heat is approaching 11, immediately sip some chai or lassi, or use a squirt of citrus to help dial it down.

Eater curated a roving list of restaurants that prepares rich butter chicken, delicious dosas, abundant thalis, and beyond. Here, you’ll also find places that offer LA-inspired interpretations of traditional dishes, that take the cross-cultural lens a step further to expand the definition of what makes a dish South Asian. Head to one of these 18 essential Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi restaurants in Los Angeles.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Namaste Spiceland

Copy Link

With locations in Pasadena, Santa Clarita, and Thousand Oaks, Namaste Spiceland is a one-stop shop for groceries and dining. It’s a place to stock up on rice, lentils, and frozen staples, and stay for dinner. Crowd-favorites include their South Indian dishes, especially the dosas, or the Bombay street food. The trick is to order the mouth-puckering chaat first, so that you don’t grocery shop on an empty stomach.

821 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
(805) 373-6761
(805) 373-6761
Daily lunch combo from Namaste Spiceland in Pasadena.
Daily lunch combo from Namaste Spiceland in Pasadena.
Farley Elliott

Also featured in:

Tulsi Indian Eatery

Copy Link

With locations in DTLA, Northridge, Westwood, and Riverside, Tulsi is a fast-casual restaurant dedicated to providing regional Indian fare to Southern Californians, and they’re showing that regional diversity in a way that few places in the city are able to. The combo is a winner, as it allows diners to try North Indian and South Indian at once. Their Gujarati dishes are some of the best the city has to offer, and a side of loaded makhani fries flavored with tikka masala gravy add extra flavor.

19535 Nordhoff St Suite 50, Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 626-9667
(818) 626-9667
An overhead shot of a thali combination steel tray with a variety of Indian foods.
Thali from Tulsi.
Tulsi Indian Eatery

Also featured in:

Baja Subs Market & Deli

Copy Link

Owners Premil Jayasinghe and his wife Koshalie have been running Baja Subs since 2016. While the original owners served mostly Mexican food, the Jayasinghes have slowly expanded Baja’s Sri Lankan menu over the last four years, offering some of the most remarkable Sri Lankan food in Los Angeles. Popular dishes include the koturoti with lamb curry, egg hoppers, and chicken biryani.

8801 Reseda Blvd Suite A, Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 993-7064
(818) 993-7064
Several Sri Lankan dishes placed on a brown table.
Spread of Sri Lankan dishes from Baja Subs in Northridge.
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Roots Indian Bistro

Copy Link

Roots welcomes fresh faces and regulars daily, working a menu that moves beyond the classics into only-in-LA territory. Stop by for a variety of fun offerings like paneer masala fries and chicken wings glazed in butter chicken sauce.

7265 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 297-3125
(323) 297-3125

Pijja Palace

Copy Link

One of Los Angeles’s hottest restaurants is an Indian pizza sports bar. Its unexpected combination results in a stunning malai rigatoni pasta, verdant saag pizza, garam masala-crusted wings, and inspired cocktails — and everything somehow works. The nearly dozen TVs are not intrusive, the crowd is diverse, the food is exciting, and reservations are definitely required.

2711 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Malai rigatoni at Pijja Palace in Silver Lake.
Pijja Palace’s malai rigatoni
Cathy Chaplin

Also featured in:

Bangla Bazar & Restaurant

Copy Link

Bangla Bazar & Restaurant is a market and restaurant that’s bursting at the seams. Even after a recent renovation, this Bangladeshi market is full of Indian and Pakistani products with a menu designed to impress.

4205 1/2 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 380-4070
(213) 380-4070

Also featured in:

BadMaash

Copy Link

Badmaash has been mashing up Indian flavors and styles since 2013 — well before Pijja Palace recently turned Indian food on its head. The chicken tikka poutine fries are particularly wonderful.

108 W 2nd St #104, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 221-7466
(213) 221-7466
Chicken, fries, and sauce on a platter.
Badmaash
Badmaash

Also featured in:

23rd Street Cafe Indian Restaurant

Copy Link

This unassuming spot near USC is best known for its Indian Mexican food, and for good reason. A chicken tikka quesadilla or a paneer tikka masala burrito showcase how perfectly both cuisines blend together. You’ll also find Indian classics, including various curries, biryanis, and breads.

936 W 23rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 749-1593
(213) 749-1593

Abhiruchi Grill Indian Restaurant

Copy Link

When deciding what to order at Abhiruchi Grill, the choice is actually pretty simple: Get one of the 10 biryanis. There’s something for all with offerings like gobi manchurian, a deep-fried cauliflower dish, and navratan korma. 

10823 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 204-2569
(310) 204-2569
Indian butter chicken in chunks in a silver bowl.
Abhiruchi Grill Indian Restaurant
Abhiruchi Grill Indian Restaurant

Al Watan Halal Tandoori Restaurant

Copy Link

In business for over 30 years, this halal Indian-Pakistani restaurant is one of the South Bay’s most respected. Chef Mohammed Mumtaz makes traditional dishes like lamb korma and goat karahi stir-fried with onions and tomatoes, but also experiments with new recipes daily.

13619 S Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 644-6395
(310) 644-6395

Also featured in:

Zam Zam Market

Copy Link

This humble market and takeout restaurant has a smaller but excellent array of mostly Pakistani dishes, starting with flavor-packed biryani. Chicken tikka, beef kabob, and plush naan are also on the compact menu, along with chicken karahi. Weekends bring some specials like lamb pulao. Call in to order ahead, and be sure to take home a packet of dried lentils from the market.

13649 S Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 978-1927
(310) 978-1927
Chicken karahi at Zam Zam Market
Zam Zam Market
Stan Lee

Also featured in:

Al-Noor Restaurant

Copy Link

A short 10-minute drive from LAX, Al Noor is the spot to refuel after a day of traveling. This Lawndale gem offers great takes on all the favorites, as well as rarer dishes like the Pakistani nehrani, a braised beef shank topped with fresh ginger and chillies and served with wheat flour paratha.  

15112 S Inglewood Ave, Lawndale, CA 90260
(310) 675-4700
(310) 675-4700
Naan and Indian gravies.
Al-Noor Restaurant
Crystal Coser

Also featured in:

Quality Of Bombay

Copy Link

There’s plenty of Indian food across the South Bay, but this unassuming strip mall find in Lawndale, with just a smattering of seats and a setup mostly accommodating take out, could be the best Indian food in the entire area. Pre-order online for the smoothest service, where the kitchen will prepare intensely spiced dal makhani, complex channa masala with plump garbanzo beans, and some of the most immediately delicious butter chicken in LA. The palak paneer is another winner, with nicely sized paneer cubes settled into a thick paste of cooked spinach.

15333 Hawthorne Blvd, Lawndale, CA 90260
(424) 269-1010
(424) 269-1010
Butter chicken at Quality of Bombay in Lawndale.
A full plate from Quality of Bombay.
Matthew Kang

Rajdhani

Copy Link

While there are plenty of outstanding Indian restaurants in Artesia, Rajdhani might just be the best. This western Indian specialist shines with its vegetarian thalis — big metal platters filled with various vegetarian curries and eaten with freshly made bread.

18525 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 402-9102
(562) 402-9102

Also featured in:

Jay Bharat, Artesia

Copy Link

Open since 1988, Jay Bharat’s Artesia location is incredibly busy. Order ahead from this seasoned restaurant to pick up Punjabi-style samosas, cheese dosas, or a very filling thali with rice, Gujarati dal, and vegetable curries.

18701 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 924-3310
(562) 924-3310

More in Maps

Udupi Palace

Copy Link

Dosas, made from a fermented batter of ground rice and lentils, dominate the menu at Udupi Palace. The pro move is to order a Mysore masala dosa for added flavor that comes from a red chutney. Or swap your dosa for uttapam, a softer but thicker alternative.

18635 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 860-1950
(562) 860-1950

Also featured in:

Famous Tandoori

Copy Link

This hidden gem in Lomita serves a solid mix of Pakistani and Indian classics. The malai kofta is the menu highlight — vegetarian potato-and-paneer balls swimming in a creamy gravy — along with fluffy and flavorful biryani.

1817 CA-1, Lomita, CA 90717
(310) 325-0411
(310) 325-0411
Biryani from Famous Tandoori in Lomita, California
Famous Tandoori
Famous Tandoori restaurant

Also featured in:

Kamal Palace

Copy Link

Finding Kamal Palace is a bit of an obstacle course. Go down the stairs and toward the rear structure to find this friendly, family-operated restaurant that’s right next to the water. The vegetable malai has ample coconut, and you’ll want to order extra naan to sop up the remaining butter chicken sauce.

6374 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90803
(562) 493-0255
(562) 493-0255

More in Maps

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Namaste Spiceland

821 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

With locations in Pasadena, Santa Clarita, and Thousand Oaks, Namaste Spiceland is a one-stop shop for groceries and dining. It’s a place to stock up on rice, lentils, and frozen staples, and stay for dinner. Crowd-favorites include their South Indian dishes, especially the dosas, or the Bombay street food. The trick is to order the mouth-puckering chaat first, so that you don’t grocery shop on an empty stomach.

821 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
(805) 373-6761
(805) 373-6761
Daily lunch combo from Namaste Spiceland in Pasadena.
Daily lunch combo from Namaste Spiceland in Pasadena.
Farley Elliott

Tulsi Indian Eatery

19535 Nordhoff St Suite 50, Northridge, CA 91324

With locations in DTLA, Northridge, Westwood, and Riverside, Tulsi is a fast-casual restaurant dedicated to providing regional Indian fare to Southern Californians, and they’re showing that regional diversity in a way that few places in the city are able to. The combo is a winner, as it allows diners to try North Indian and South Indian at once. Their Gujarati dishes are some of the best the city has to offer, and a side of loaded makhani fries flavored with tikka masala gravy add extra flavor.

19535 Nordhoff St Suite 50, Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 626-9667
(818) 626-9667
An overhead shot of a thali combination steel tray with a variety of Indian foods.
Thali from Tulsi.
Tulsi Indian Eatery

Baja Subs Market & Deli

8801 Reseda Blvd Suite A, Northridge, CA 91324

Owners Premil Jayasinghe and his wife Koshalie have been running Baja Subs since 2016. While the original owners served mostly Mexican food, the Jayasinghes have slowly expanded Baja’s Sri Lankan menu over the last four years, offering some of the most remarkable Sri Lankan food in Los Angeles. Popular dishes include the koturoti with lamb curry, egg hoppers, and chicken biryani.

8801 Reseda Blvd Suite A, Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 993-7064
(818) 993-7064
Several Sri Lankan dishes placed on a brown table.
Spread of Sri Lankan dishes from Baja Subs in Northridge.
Wonho Frank Lee

Roots Indian Bistro

7265 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Roots welcomes fresh faces and regulars daily, working a menu that moves beyond the classics into only-in-LA territory. Stop by for a variety of fun offerings like paneer masala fries and chicken wings glazed in butter chicken sauce.

7265 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 297-3125
(323) 297-3125

Pijja Palace

2711 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

One of Los Angeles’s hottest restaurants is an Indian pizza sports bar. Its unexpected combination results in a stunning malai rigatoni pasta, verdant saag pizza, garam masala-crusted wings, and inspired cocktails — and everything somehow works. The nearly dozen TVs are not intrusive, the crowd is diverse, the food is exciting, and reservations are definitely required.

2711 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Malai rigatoni at Pijja Palace in Silver Lake.
Pijja Palace’s malai rigatoni
Cathy Chaplin

Bangla Bazar & Restaurant

4205 1/2 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Bangla Bazar & Restaurant is a market and restaurant that’s bursting at the seams. Even after a recent renovation, this Bangladeshi market is full of Indian and Pakistani products with a menu designed to impress.

4205 1/2 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 380-4070
(213) 380-4070

BadMaash

108 W 2nd St #104, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Badmaash has been mashing up Indian flavors and styles since 2013 — well before Pijja Palace recently turned Indian food on its head. The chicken tikka poutine fries are particularly wonderful.

108 W 2nd St #104, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 221-7466
(213) 221-7466
Chicken, fries, and sauce on a platter.
Badmaash
Badmaash

23rd Street Cafe Indian Restaurant

936 W 23rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90007

This unassuming spot near USC is best known for its Indian Mexican food, and for good reason. A chicken tikka quesadilla or a paneer tikka masala burrito showcase how perfectly both cuisines blend together. You’ll also find Indian classics, including various curries, biryanis, and breads.

936 W 23rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 749-1593
(213) 749-1593

Abhiruchi Grill Indian Restaurant

10823 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034

When deciding what to order at Abhiruchi Grill, the choice is actually pretty simple: Get one of the 10 biryanis. There’s something for all with offerings like gobi manchurian, a deep-fried cauliflower dish, and navratan korma. 

10823 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 204-2569
(310) 204-2569
Indian butter chicken in chunks in a silver bowl.
Abhiruchi Grill Indian Restaurant
Abhiruchi Grill Indian Restaurant

Al Watan Halal Tandoori Restaurant

13619 S Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250

In business for over 30 years, this halal Indian-Pakistani restaurant is one of the South Bay’s most respected. Chef Mohammed Mumtaz makes traditional dishes like lamb korma and goat karahi stir-fried with onions and tomatoes, but also experiments with new recipes daily.

13619 S Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 644-6395
(310) 644-6395

Zam Zam Market

13649 S Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250

This humble market and takeout restaurant has a smaller but excellent array of mostly Pakistani dishes, starting with flavor-packed biryani. Chicken tikka, beef kabob, and plush naan are also on the compact menu, along with chicken karahi. Weekends bring some specials like lamb pulao. Call in to order ahead, and be sure to take home a packet of dried lentils from the market.

13649 S Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 978-1927
(310) 978-1927
Chicken karahi at Zam Zam Market
Zam Zam Market
Stan Lee

Al-Noor Restaurant

15112 S Inglewood Ave, Lawndale, CA 90260

A short 10-minute drive from LAX, Al Noor is the spot to refuel after a day of traveling. This Lawndale gem offers great takes on all the favorites, as well as rarer dishes like the Pakistani nehrani, a braised beef shank topped with fresh ginger and chillies and served with wheat flour paratha.  

15112 S Inglewood Ave, Lawndale, CA 90260
(310) 675-4700
(310) 675-4700
Naan and Indian gravies.
Al-Noor Restaurant
Crystal Coser

Quality Of Bombay

15333 Hawthorne Blvd, Lawndale, CA 90260

There’s plenty of Indian food across the South Bay, but this unassuming strip mall find in Lawndale, with just a smattering of seats and a setup mostly accommodating take out, could be the best Indian food in the entire area. Pre-order online for the smoothest service, where the kitchen will prepare intensely spiced dal makhani, complex channa masala with plump garbanzo beans, and some of the most immediately delicious butter chicken in LA. The palak paneer is another winner, with nicely sized paneer cubes settled into a thick paste of cooked spinach.

15333 Hawthorne Blvd, Lawndale, CA 90260
(424) 269-1010
(424) 269-1010
Butter chicken at Quality of Bombay in Lawndale.
A full plate from Quality of Bombay.
Matthew Kang

Rajdhani

18525 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701

While there are plenty of outstanding Indian restaurants in Artesia, Rajdhani might just be the best. This western Indian specialist shines with its vegetarian thalis — big metal platters filled with various vegetarian curries and eaten with freshly made bread.

18525 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 402-9102
(562) 402-9102

Jay Bharat, Artesia

18701 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701

Open since 1988, Jay Bharat’s Artesia location is incredibly busy. Order ahead from this seasoned restaurant to pick up Punjabi-style samosas, cheese dosas, or a very filling thali with rice, Gujarati dal, and vegetable curries.

18701 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 924-3310
(562) 924-3310

Related Maps

Udupi Palace

18635 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701

Dosas, made from a fermented batter of ground rice and lentils, dominate the menu at Udupi Palace. The pro move is to order a Mysore masala dosa for added flavor that comes from a red chutney. Or swap your dosa for uttapam, a softer but thicker alternative.

18635 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 860-1950
(562) 860-1950

Famous Tandoori

1817 CA-1, Lomita, CA 90717

This hidden gem in Lomita serves a solid mix of Pakistani and Indian classics. The malai kofta is the menu highlight — vegetarian potato-and-paneer balls swimming in a creamy gravy — along with fluffy and flavorful biryani.

1817 CA-1, Lomita, CA 90717
(310) 325-0411
(310) 325-0411
Biryani from Famous Tandoori in Lomita, California
Famous Tandoori
Famous Tandoori restaurant

Kamal Palace

6374 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90803

Finding Kamal Palace is a bit of an obstacle course. Go down the stairs and toward the rear structure to find this friendly, family-operated restaurant that’s right next to the water. The vegetable malai has ample coconut, and you’ll want to order extra naan to sop up the remaining butter chicken sauce.

6374 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90803
(562) 493-0255
(562) 493-0255

Related Maps