Get Curry Happy! 23 Popular Indian Dishes to Try

Popular Indian Dishes

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Biryani. Vindaloo. Tikka masala. We crave curry!

But in Indian cuisine, “curry” has many different meanings.

It all depends on the spices and ingredients thrown into the pot. And don’t forget the side-dishes, whose Indian food names are also foreign to our Western brains!

When we’re home and not traveling, we often like to go out to Indian restaurants or order Indian food delivery or take-out (perhaps to enjoy while watching lots of travel shows on Netflix).

Indian recipes are so complex, requiring many different spices and lots of prep and cooking time, that the food isn’t something we can easily whip up ourselves.

So what are some popular Indian dishes to try? Which are the best Indian dishes to order at a restaurant?

If you love curry and the fragrant flavors of Indian food, but don’t know your dal from your dosa, here’s a quick primer.

Popular-Indian-Cuisine

Featured reader comment

“We plan to eat at an Indian restaurant this coming weekend, and we want to make the experience the finest it can be. I’m glad I came across your article to read about how Indian food is prepared…”

~ Bella

Regional Indian food

With a 5,000-year history, Indian cuisine has been shaped by a mix of cultures and flavors. The Mughals brought their rich creamy curries, while the Portuguese and British added their own twists.

Today, the vast Indian subcontinent has more than 35 distinct cuisines.

But for the sake of absolute simplicity, you can break down the food preferences into two regions: North Indian food and South Indian food.

Food in North India

  • Spices and veggies reign (lots of vegetarian options).
  • North Indians prefer breads like naan over rice.
  • Dishes aren’t as fiery hot as in the south, and you’ll find more creamy creations.

South Indian dishes

  • Curries are hotter.
  • More rice is eaten, often combined with lentils.
  • Dishes feature a lot of seafood and coconut.

Stay at these fab hotels and taste these dishes in India!

  • Oberoi Amarvilas Agra – Sumptuous hotel in Agra, where every room enjoys a splendid view of the Taj Mahal
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  • The Rawla Narlai – Luxury boutique heritage hotel in Rajasthan’s Aravalli Hills, offering unique experiences like jeep drives to see leopards
Indian curry and rice in copper serving dishes

While every region has its specialties, the secret sauce is a shared love for bold spices and vibrant flavors.

Whether it’s a buttery naan in the north or a fiery curry in the south, the following are 23 of our favorite Indian dishes.

Indian food appetizers and snacks

1) Samosas

The most popular Indian food in the world? Samosas!

The most popular Indian food in the world? Samosas are right up there!

Eaten as an appetizer, a samosa is a fried or baked triangular-shaped pastry filled with spiced potatoes, peas and onions. Meat varieties have ground lamb, beef or chicken too.

They often come with mint sauce or sweet-tangy tamarind chutney on the side.

They’re such a hit that you can usually find frozen pre-made samosas in your grocery store. But they won’t compare to what you can get from a good Indian restaurant.

Or you can try making your own – here’s a great recipe for making the perfect samosas.

2) Chaat

Chaat is one of the most Popular Indian dishes

Originating in the north of India, chaat is the ultimate Indian street-food snack. The word “chaat” literally means “to lick” – and you’ll be licking your fingers clean!

Chaat comes in endless varieties, but they all share a winning formula – a starch base (like a samosa or puffed rice), fresh vegetables and a drizzle of chutney.

One standout? Papri chaat. It’s made with a samosa-style dough wafer, boiled potatoes and chickpeas, topped with tamarind chutney and crunchy bits of deep-fried noodles.

3) Pakora

Crispy golden vegetable pakoras

Pakoras are fried vegetable fritters – bite-size bundles of joy made with potatoes, onions, cauliflower and other veggies. They’re traditionally coated in chick-pea flour before being deep-fried.

Dip them in mango chutney, zesty mint sauce or yogurt.

4) Papadum

One of our favorite Indian dishes to order as a starter is a serving of papadums.

A traditional starter we particularly love is a serving of papadums. We love breaking the large thin crispy wafer apart – and hearing that satisfying crackle.

A little peppery, papadums often come with coriander mint chutney.

Popular Indian curries and main dishes

5) Butter chicken

Popular Indian Food

Butter chicken (or murgh makhani) is probably the most beloved chicken dish from India and the ultimate comfort curry. 

Tender chicken chunks swim in a velvety tomato sauce, made with butter, onions and cream. It’s mild, smooth and oh-so-satisfying.

It’s our go-to curry and we never tire of it!

If you want something lightly spiced and easy on the heat, butter chicken is a foolproof pick – especially if this is your first time eating Indian food.

6) Tikka masala

Red-colored Indian chicken tikka masala served over white rice

Marinate chunks of (typically) chicken in yogurt and spices, perhaps garam masala. (Garam masala is a blend of ground spices, usually including coriander, cumin, cardamom, cloves and black pepper.)

Then roast over charcoal in a clay oven (called a tandoor). Lastly, mix the chicken with a creamy vibrant orange-colored sauce made with tomatoes, paprika and red chili.

Say hello to another one of the most popular Indian curries – chicken tikka masala!

As it’s a mild curry, tikka masala is a great choice if you don’t like hot food – making it another one of the best Indian dishes for beginners.

Tikka masala vs. butter chicken

It looks similar to butter chicken. So what’s the difference between tikka masala and butter chicken?

Butter chicken is usually less tomatoey and creamier than chicken tikka masala.

Also, butter chicken comes from Delhi.

On the other hand, chicken tikka masala was supposedly invented in Scotland in the 1970s by a chef after immigrating from Pakistan. It became such a hit that it was famously dubbed “Britain’s national dish.”

Not sure what to choose? Go with butter chicken.

7) Biryani

Indian biryani

A Mughal gift from Persia to India, biryani is a classic Indian dish.

Rice and meat or vegetables are prepared separately, then combined and slow-cooked in the oven. It’s a “dry dish” – meaning no creamy gravy-like sauce – but the flavors are anything but dry!

Basmati rice is typically used. And the meat (goat, chicken or mutton) is usually marinated first in yogurt. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom add a delicate flavor.

You can’t go wrong ordering biryani!

8) Pasanda

Hailing from the north of India, Pasanda is a mild curry made with cream, coconut milk and almonds, where the meat is pounded very thin. Originally served with lamb, it now often features prawns or chicken.

9) Korma

Korma is one of the best Indian dishes to hail from northern India.

Korma is another one of the best Indian dishes to try from northern India.

Braised meat (maybe chicken or beef) and vegetables are slow cooked in a thick mild curry sauce made with cream, coconut milk or yogurt and sometimes almonds.

It’s delicately spiced with coriander, saffron, ginger, cardamom and black peppercorn.

10) Madras Curry

Chicken Madras curry accompanied by rice and peas

From the south of India, Madras curry is usually made with chicken – so it’s commonly known as “Chicken Madras” or “Madras Chicken.”

No matter what you call it though, it’s an intensely flavorful Indian chicken curry (a fairly hot curry).

Like Roghan Josh (#11 below), it’s a rich dark red in color – the color comes from the chilis used.

11) Roghan Josh

Rogan Josh is an aromatic lamb or beef curry

Deep red in color, Rogan Josh (also spelled Roghan Josh) is a flavor-packed curry dish that brings lamb (or beef) to life with chili peppers and aromatic spices.

Thought to be Persian in origin, it’s now a dish associated with Kashmir, the most northern region of India.

The meat is first browned then slowly stewed in a thick luscious gravy of garlic, onions, ginger, chili pepper and spices.

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Roghan Josh is usually eaten with fluffy basmati rice and/or naan.

When it’s just the two of us dining, we typically order a lamb Roghan Josh (with the heat dialed up!) plus a butter chicken (#5) – the two curries are wildly different in flavor and texture.

12) Mutter Paneer

Mutter Paneer

This one’s for the vegetarian in you!

Mutter paneer is a north Indian curry made with cubes of paneer (a soft fresh cheese like cottage cheese). It’s mixed with peas and a tomato-and-onion based sauce.

Slurp it up with naan or chapatis.

13) Keema

Keema

Meaning “minced or ground meat,” Keema is an aromatic curry dish made with fried or stewed minced beef (or pork, chicken or lamb).

It’s often used as a filling for samosas.

14) Vindaloo

Pork vindaloo

Bring on the heat! Vindaloo is a classic hot curry, made with chopped chicken, pork or lamb, tossed with garlic, hot chilis and wine or vinegar.

When Portuguese explorers made it to Goa in the 15th century, they brought the dish with them.

The word vindaloo is a mispronunciation of a Portuguese dish of meat marinated in wine-vinegar and garlic. Franciscan priests then adapted the dish – they couldn’t get wine-vinegar in India so they got inventive and made their own from palm wine.

Vindaloo Indian Food

Like Madras curry (#10), vindaloo is one of the hottest Indian curries. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

15) Tandoori chicken

When it comes to famous Indian food, tandoori chicken is at the top of the list!

You’ve probably heard of tandoori chicken?

It became one of the most famous Indian food dishes after wowing the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, post-independence. He was so hooked that it became a regular staple at official banquets.

The chicken is prepared by marinating it in yogurt and spices like turmeric, cardamom, coriander, fresh ginger, garlic, red chili and lime juice. Then it’s grilled in a tandoor clay oven.

It comes out juicy and oh-so-delicious – and is a great dish for a main course.

Indian side dishes

16) Naan

Naan is a favorite Indian dish.

No Indian curry feast is complete without naan – a  pillowy yeast-leavened flatbread, traditionally baked in a tandoor oven. It’s perfect for mopping up every drop of that irresistible curry sauce!

Naan is best served warm and fresh from the oven. (When receiving it as take-out, it’s often wrapped in aluminum foil to keep it warm.)

Many Indian restaurants offer different types of naan.

We’ve eaten several versions – plain naan, naan with garlic butter brushed on top and naan baked with rosemary inside. And while we enjoy them all, plain naan is probably still our favorite.

17) Paratha

A staple in many Indian households, paratha is a type of Indian bread.

Can you ever have too much Indian bread? We don’t think so.

A staple in many Indian households, paratha is unleavened flatbread, happily eaten at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Paratha vs. naan: What’s the difference?

While naan (#16) is baked in a clay tandoor oven, parathas are pan-fried. They’re thinner than naan and flakier.

To eat them, tear the paratha apart with your fingers. It’s delicious on its own. Or use the torn pieces to scoop up your curry sauce.

18) Dosa

Dosa is a popular Indian food

A thin pancake, dosa is crepe-like and slightly sweeter than naan (#16). Coming from the southern part of India, it’s typically made from rice and lentils.

You usually eat dosas hot, dipped in various chutneys, as an accompaniment to a curry meal.

But sometimes dosas are stuffed with veggies and eaten as snacks (popular as street food in India). Masala dosa, for example, is filled with spiced potatoes.

19) Chapati

A chapati is a thin unleavened flatbread made from flour, salt and water, cooked on a hot griddle. They’re another Indian staple – break off pieces to scoop up the food from your plate.

20) Raita

Raita is a must!

A side dish made from yogurt and cucumber, raita is used to cool the spicy heat from curries. Try putting a little on each forkful.

You can also dip your naan into it.

Raita is so creamy and delicious, though, that you might just want to lap it up on its own!

Make raita at home

Mix the following ingredients in a bowl. Chill. Enjoy!

  • ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup cucumber (grated)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt to taste

21) Dal

Dal is another dish that perfectly complements your curry and rice. It’s made from split peas, lentils or beans, cooked into a flavorful mushy consistency. It’s very healthy!

22) Saag Paneer

Saag paneer is a classic Indian vegetarian dish.

Like mutter paneer (#12), saag paneer is another classic Indian vegetarian dish.

Saag means “greens” in Hindi. And this North Indian dish is typically made from cooked spinach (though sometimes other green vegetables like mustard greens or chopped broccoli are substituted).

The soft spinach is thickened with cream or coconut milk, spices are added and cubes of fried paneer cheese are stirred into the stew.

You can eat this as a side dish, or serve it with rice for a healthy vegetarian meal.

Indian desserts

23) Gulab Jamun

Gulab Jamun is a popular Indian dessert

Of course, you need something deliciously sweet to finish off your Indian meal.

Enter gulab jamun.

This popular Indian dessert is based on two flavors – gulab (which means rose) and jamun (which refers to purple jamun berries, similar to blueberries).

Using milk solids and flour, the dessert consists of small doughy balls soaked in rose water and green cardamom.

Think of it like Indian doughnuts dipped in mouth-watering syrup! (But, sorry, ordinary doughnuts won’t ever taste as good again after you’ve tried gulab jamuns.)

So now you know the best Indian food dishes to try!

Madras paneer, palak paneer and other Indian food dishes

You know your dal from your dosa, your Madras from your masala…

Okay, you get the picture! Enjoy!

Do you like Indian food?

How hot do you like your curry?

You can let us know in the Comments section below! (And you can read comments by other readers too.)

Also check out these Indian food recipe books on Amazon. (And just so you know, as an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)


Pssst! Pin this guide on the top Indian foods for later!

Popular Indian dishes to order at an Indian food restaurant
Popular Indian food dishes

Photo credits:Wikimedia, Charles Haynes


About the authors

Janice and George Mucalov are award-winning travel journalists who’ve explored all seven continents. They share destination guidesluxury hotel reviewscultural adventurescruise insightstravel tips and more on their luxury travel blog, Sand In My Suitcase. See About.

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26 Comments

  1. This post playfully challenges common Western perceptions of “curry,” shedding light on the complexity and variety of Indian cuisine. It teases the idea that even side dishes can be a delightful mystery to the uninitiated. As a reader, it piques your curiosity and encourages you to explore the nuanced world of Indian food beyond the generic term “curry.”

  2. Varieties of the Shahi (Mughal) dishes are best served with beef, e.g., beef biryani, beef korma, beef kofta.

    Perhaps you have only tried the Indian side of the North cuisines? I must say that your list covers almost all the best of the North Indian dishes. One missing dish, however, is “Nalli Nihari” (beef/goat). You might need to try an Indian restaurant of Pakistani origin to get an authentic taste of it :).

    Anyway, good read.

    1. Thank you for pointing out Nalli Nihari! This slow-cooked mutton or goat curry sounds delicious! Stewed in a myriad of aromatic spices, we understand it was traditionally cooked for the Mughal kings.

      We will definitely try to taste this dish in future :-).

  3. Awesome post!

    But being an Indian Bengali, I’m very sad you might not have tasted a single authentic Bengali dish. Not even a dessert 🥺.

    Please make it a point to try finding and tasting some of them… Some of the top ones… Authentic Bengali biryani, muri ghonto, mustard hilsa fish, katla fish, Bengali mutton curry with potatoes, poppy seeds potato and lentils, Rasogolla (most famous), misti doi, pithe and more.

    1. Oh, you’re making us hungry with your comment! We will follow your advice and look for authentic Bengali food to devour :-).

  4. I enjoyed the explanations that accompanied those different dishes but wanted to ask about another dish.

    I have been to a couple Indian restaurants and they served Chicken Josh. I don’t think it was Rogan Josh as the coloring was more similar to the coloring in butter chicken. Any thoughts about what this “chicken josh” might be – could it simply be butter chicken? Or something else?

    Thanks for the good read!

    1. Maybe it was “chicken rogan josh“?

      Traditionally made with lamb, rogan josh can also be made with chicken.

      If the color was different, the restaurant could have used different spices and fewer chili peppers. There are many different recipes for the “same” Indian dish, and different restaurants may put their own twist on what they cook up :-).

  5. The writers should have travelled to West Bengal and especially Kolkata, where a plethora of Bengali dishes would beat the dishes mentioned by them in the article hands down at any given time.

    No. I am not regional. But stating the hard fact. Bengali dishes are always number one.

    Nevertheless, the article is a very good read.

    1. Hello Soumik,

      One day, we’d love to travel to the Bengal region of the Indian sub-continent!

      In the meantime, we’ll have to try and satisfy ourselves by eating Bengali food, some of which can be hard to come by here at Indian restaurants in Canada :-).
      Anyway, glad you found our article a “good read” — thanks!

  6. I enjoyed reading your blog, and I must say that you have picked some of the best Indian food. It’s impressive that you know so much about these dishes. I don’t know if you have tried them all, but anyway great job!

    1. Yes, we’ve actually eaten all these Indian dishes, except maybe dosa??

      Thanks for your kind comments!

  7. We plan to eat at an Indian restaurant this coming weekend, and we want to make the experience the finest it can be.

    I’m glad I came across your article to read about how Indian food is prepared, and yes, I agree that these dishes are not readily prepared.

    1. Hi Maharishi,

      We understand keema is usually made with lamb or mutton, but beef keema is made in places in India where beef is eaten. Certainly, there are international recipes for beef keema.

      The same is true with korma. Chicken korma is more common in India. But the recipe has been adapted so you can find beef korma.

      That’s one thing that’s so wonderful about Indian food – you can substitute different meats and make your own versions :-).

  8. The most common error in this list (outside of the overuse of the word curry) is one that’s all too common with non-Indian reviews of Indian dishes. You describe the dish by the sum of its parts.

    Not only does Indian food pride itself on the former exceeding the latter, but the “parts” themselves are transformed into entirely different parts. This might seem like useless embellishment, but without it, your reader might leave asking themselves why on God’s green earth you’d ever mix cottage cheese with peas.

    P.S. Have you ever heard the word “mushy” used with a positive connotation?

    1. Indian food is indeed sophisticated:-). That’s why we don’t try to make it ourselves. We like the expert cooks to make it – and for us to have the pleasure of devouring it.

      And when good Indian chefs whip up all the ingredients properly, well, the food is truly divine!

      We hope readers get the message that Indian cuisine is one of our favorites :-). And if they’re unfamiliar with Indian food or hesitant to try it, perhaps our primer helps to demystify it, so they’ll feel more comfortable ordering dishes they may not have tried before.

      Thanks for reading and for taking the time to write in…

    1. Hi Harsh,

      Thanks for commenting!

      Interesting… But if you Google, you’ll find that, technically, both can be called butter chicken. “Murgh” is the Hindi word for chicken and “Makhani” or “Makhni” means “with butter.” There are lots of good recipes out there for “Murgh Makhani” :-).

      One of our favorite Indian dishes…