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Overhead shot of curries, naan, rice, and chicken tikka poutine at Badmaash.
Dishes at Badmaash.
Wonho Frank Lee

17 Flavorful Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Los Angeles

There’s nothing better than daal, saag paneer, dosa, and butter chicken

by Eater Staff Updated
16 comments / new
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Dishes at Badmaash.
| Wonho Frank Lee
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 and gorgeous curries. Here, you’ll find destinations that offer LA-inspired interpretations of traditional dishes; others take the cross-cultural lens a step further to subvert expectations about what South Asian cuisine can be. And now, head to one of these 17 essential Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani, and more South Asian restaurants in Los Angeles.

Added: Abhiruchi Grill Indian Restaurant, Badmaash, Pijja Palace, Abhiruchi Grill Indian Restaurant

Removed: Bombay Frankie Company, Cinnamon Indian Cuisine, Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen, Tawakal Halal Tandoori Restaurant

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Apey Kade Restaurant

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Apey Kade’s husband and wife owners Lalith Rodrigo and Niza Hashim prepare Sri Lankan dishes, including a specialty dish called chicken lamprais (made with chicken or beef curry in coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaf) at this spot that’s tucked into a Tarzana strip mall.

19662 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 609-7683
(818) 609-7683

Also featured in:

Bhanu's Indian Grocery & Cuisine

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Part grocery store and part sit-down restaurant, Bhanu’s Indian Grocery & Cuisine has been winning the hearts and stomachs of San Gabriel residents since 2011. Crowd-pleasing favorites include the chicken tikka masala, coconut fish curry, samosas, and butter chicken.

7246 Rosemead Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91775
(626) 291-2101
(626) 291-2101

Also featured in:

Roots Indian Bistro

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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

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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

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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:

Bombay Beach

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Husband and wife team Angat and Gurpreet Gaada opened Bombay Beach in 2018, adding a splash of blue and white color and a youthful presence to LA’s Indian restaurants. Bombay Beach’s Northern Indian menu offers favorites like creamy butter chicken, crispy samosas, and incredible vegan tikka masala (ask the kitchen to make it spicy). In a nod to Angat’s Los Angeles roots, the kitchen also crafts chicken tikka tacos and a new menu item: tandoori chicken pizza.

1338 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 378-0555
(213) 378-0555
Bombay Beach restaurant assortment platters
Bombay Beach
Courtesy of Bombay Beach

BadMaash

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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:

Abhiruchi Grill Indian Restaurant

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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, even vegetarians, 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

Tumbi

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Santa Monica is filled with casual Indian concepts, but Tumbi takes a modern approach with farmers market ingredients and fanciful presentations. Add craft beer and wine for a night out on the town with flavors that might feel familiar, but could only happen in Los Angeles.

115 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 829-7200
(310) 829-7200
Tumbi [Official Photo]

Al Watan Halal Tandoori Restaurant

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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

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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

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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 jalapeno 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:

Chennai Dosa Corner

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Dosas, or Southern Indian crepes, dominate the menu at Chennai Dosa Corner. They’re best eaten hot, so head straight to your car to quickly consume the butter masala or dosa with a lentil topping and vegetables.

18413 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 924-3555
(562) 924-3555

Also featured in:

Rajdhani

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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

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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 platter with rice, gujarati dal, and vegetable curries.

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

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Famous Tandoori

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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

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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

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Apey Kade Restaurant

19662 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356

Apey Kade’s husband and wife owners Lalith Rodrigo and Niza Hashim prepare Sri Lankan dishes, including a specialty dish called chicken lamprais (made with chicken or beef curry in coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaf) at this spot that’s tucked into a Tarzana strip mall.

19662 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 609-7683
(818) 609-7683

Bhanu's Indian Grocery & Cuisine

7246 Rosemead Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91775

Part grocery store and part sit-down restaurant, Bhanu’s Indian Grocery & Cuisine has been winning the hearts and stomachs of San Gabriel residents since 2011. Crowd-pleasing favorites include the chicken tikka masala, coconut fish curry, samosas, and butter chicken.

7246 Rosemead Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91775
(626) 291-2101
(626) 291-2101

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

Bombay Beach

1338 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Husband and wife team Angat and Gurpreet Gaada opened Bombay Beach in 2018, adding a splash of blue and white color and a youthful presence to LA’s Indian restaurants. Bombay Beach’s Northern Indian menu offers favorites like creamy butter chicken, crispy samosas, and incredible vegan tikka masala (ask the kitchen to make it spicy). In a nod to Angat’s Los Angeles roots, the kitchen also crafts chicken tikka tacos and a new menu item: tandoori chicken pizza.

1338 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 378-0555
(213) 378-0555
Bombay Beach restaurant assortment platters
Bombay Beach
Courtesy of Bombay Beach

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

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, even vegetarians, 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

Tumbi

115 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Santa Monica is filled with casual Indian concepts, but Tumbi takes a modern approach with farmers market ingredients and fanciful presentations. Add craft beer and wine for a night out on the town with flavors that might feel familiar, but could only happen in Los Angeles.

115 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 829-7200
(310) 829-7200
Tumbi [Official Photo]

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 jalapeno 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

Chennai Dosa Corner

18413 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701

Dosas, or Southern Indian crepes, dominate the menu at Chennai Dosa Corner. They’re best eaten hot, so head straight to your car to quickly consume the butter masala or dosa with a lentil topping and vegetables.

18413 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 924-3555
(562) 924-3555

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 platter with rice, gujarati dal, and vegetable curries.

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

Related Maps

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