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A number of Indian dishes on a platter.
A lunch-time spread at Curryosity in South Park.
Curryosity

Where to Eat Indian Food in San Diego

Celebrating Diwali? These restaurants have you covered

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A lunch-time spread at Curryosity in South Park.
| Curryosity

Diwali, the festival of lights for Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, will be celebrated this Sunday, November 12 with food as a major focus of the holiday. That’s where San Diego’s Indian restaurants come in, featuring dishes ranging from Punjabi-inspired classics found on many North American menus, like butter chicken, as well as chaat and other South Indian favorites. With the holiday approaching, some are even hosting special dinners or offering catering of Diwali snacks and sweets.

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Dosa Studio Vegetarian Restaurant & Catering

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This newer Indian entry serves an entirely vegetarian menu, offering a variety of dosas as well as an all-you-can-eat Thali night on Fridays between 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. that features curry, daal, and other main dishes as well as bountiful sides.

Charminar Indian Restaurant & Catering

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The spacious restaurant has plenty of room for events and private parties like Diwali dinner, offering lunch specials and a dinner menu highlighted by its most famous dish, Hyderabadi biriyani, available with a variety of halal meats.

An assortment of Indian dishes.
An assortment of dishes.
Charminar Indian Restaurant & Catering.

San Idli Indian Restaurant

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Head to this South Indian vegetarian restaurant for its breakfast menu, which features its signature fluffy idli served along with dosas, poori, uthapam, and vada, which are savory fritters paired with chutneys and lentil stew.

Punjabi Tandoor

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As the name implies, Punjabi Tandoor focuses on the rich cuisine of one of India’s northernmost provinces and specializes in lunch service. Outside of the Indian diaspora, a lesser-known fact of Indian cuisine is that much of what’s found on menus in the United States originated in Punjab. This means chicken makhani, naan, vindaloos, butter chicken and other classic dishes.

Chennai Tiffins

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A departure from much of the Indian food found in San Diego, Chennai Tiffins focuses on South Indian cuisine, which packs a stronger spice punch and leans heavily upon vegetarian options. First-timers should spring for the dosa, which come loaded with different fillings.

A plate of food centered in the middle of the shot.
Dahi vada at Chennai Tiffins.
Chennai Tiffins

Royal India

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This award-winning Indian restaurant has multiple locations throughout San Diego — including Gaslamp, Del Mar, and Miramar. The lunch and Sunday night buffets were popular pre-pandemic, but their generous menu still offers ample share-friendly options for delivery.

Three plates of food around a bouquet of flowers.
The interior of Royal India.
Royal India Miramar

Sattvik Foods

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While Sattvik offers plenty of Indian dishes like paneer and undhiyu, chef Kanta Jina originally hails from Kenya, so her African roots play a part in the Asian options available at the restaurant. The restaurant is also offering an extensive catering menu for Diwali, stacked with appetizers, snacks, and mithai, or India sweets.

A close-up photo of noodles and vegetables.
Sattvik Foods has plenty of vegetarian options.
Sattvik Foods

Mirch Masala 2 Go

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This family-owned Indian restaurant offers a menu featuring dishes such as rogan josh, butter chicken, chana masala, and a variety of biryanis to choose from.

Kebabish

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As the name of this restaurant suggests, there are plenty of kebabs to choose from on this extensive menu. Other popular dishes include chicken biryani and mutton karahi.

The interior of a restaurant.
The interior of Kebabish.
Kebabish

Village Indian Cuisine

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Like many of San Diego’s popular Indian restaurants, Village Indian is well-loved for dishes like chicken tikka masala, various saag dishes, and tandoor dishes.

A close-up photo of food on a plate.
One of the numerous combo plates at Village Indian Cuisine.
Village Indian Cuisine

Bombay Coast Indian Cuisine

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Fish, shrimp, vegan or vegetarian, chicken, lamb, biryani — you name it, Bombay Coast has it on their menu. This Indian spot is conveniently open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, making it an easy late-night dinner choice.

Two beers and a dish of food.
Bombay Coast offers lowkey options at an affordable price.
Bombay Coast

Himalayan Cuisine

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With a menu featuring Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan cuisine, this La Mesa restaurant is a great choice for people who want to switch things up a little bit.

Biryani next to a dish of sauce.
Himalayan Cuisine provides dishes sourced from a number of countries.
Himalayan Cuisine

Himalayan Yak & Yeti

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Popular items at this Indian restaurant include veggie samosas, chicken momo, aloo kobi, and, of course — naan.

A very close-up photo of naan.
This restaurant provides powerhouse dishes, from the naan to the entrees.
Himalayan Yak & Yeti

India Palace

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Hot on the delivery circuit and equally popular during lunch and dinner hours. Hillcrest’s India Palace serves quality versions of dishes found on many Indian menus like tikka masala, biryanis, channa masala, aloo gobi and more.

Curryosity on Juniper

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Curryosity, which brought a welcome Indian food infusion into South Park, serves a range of traditional curries but there are some surprising twists on the menu like curry waffle fries.

Dosa Studio Vegetarian Restaurant & Catering

This newer Indian entry serves an entirely vegetarian menu, offering a variety of dosas as well as an all-you-can-eat Thali night on Fridays between 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. that features curry, daal, and other main dishes as well as bountiful sides.

Charminar Indian Restaurant & Catering

The spacious restaurant has plenty of room for events and private parties like Diwali dinner, offering lunch specials and a dinner menu highlighted by its most famous dish, Hyderabadi biriyani, available with a variety of halal meats.

An assortment of Indian dishes.
An assortment of dishes.
Charminar Indian Restaurant & Catering.

San Idli Indian Restaurant

Head to this South Indian vegetarian restaurant for its breakfast menu, which features its signature fluffy idli served along with dosas, poori, uthapam, and vada, which are savory fritters paired with chutneys and lentil stew.

Punjabi Tandoor

As the name implies, Punjabi Tandoor focuses on the rich cuisine of one of India’s northernmost provinces and specializes in lunch service. Outside of the Indian diaspora, a lesser-known fact of Indian cuisine is that much of what’s found on menus in the United States originated in Punjab. This means chicken makhani, naan, vindaloos, butter chicken and other classic dishes.

Chennai Tiffins

A departure from much of the Indian food found in San Diego, Chennai Tiffins focuses on South Indian cuisine, which packs a stronger spice punch and leans heavily upon vegetarian options. First-timers should spring for the dosa, which come loaded with different fillings.

A plate of food centered in the middle of the shot.
Dahi vada at Chennai Tiffins.
Chennai Tiffins

Royal India

This award-winning Indian restaurant has multiple locations throughout San Diego — including Gaslamp, Del Mar, and Miramar. The lunch and Sunday night buffets were popular pre-pandemic, but their generous menu still offers ample share-friendly options for delivery.

Three plates of food around a bouquet of flowers.
The interior of Royal India.
Royal India Miramar

Sattvik Foods

While Sattvik offers plenty of Indian dishes like paneer and undhiyu, chef Kanta Jina originally hails from Kenya, so her African roots play a part in the Asian options available at the restaurant. The restaurant is also offering an extensive catering menu for Diwali, stacked with appetizers, snacks, and mithai, or India sweets.

A close-up photo of noodles and vegetables.
Sattvik Foods has plenty of vegetarian options.
Sattvik Foods

Mirch Masala 2 Go

This family-owned Indian restaurant offers a menu featuring dishes such as rogan josh, butter chicken, chana masala, and a variety of biryanis to choose from.

Kebabish

As the name of this restaurant suggests, there are plenty of kebabs to choose from on this extensive menu. Other popular dishes include chicken biryani and mutton karahi.

The interior of a restaurant.
The interior of Kebabish.
Kebabish

Village Indian Cuisine

Like many of San Diego’s popular Indian restaurants, Village Indian is well-loved for dishes like chicken tikka masala, various saag dishes, and tandoor dishes.

A close-up photo of food on a plate.
One of the numerous combo plates at Village Indian Cuisine.
Village Indian Cuisine

Bombay Coast Indian Cuisine

Fish, shrimp, vegan or vegetarian, chicken, lamb, biryani — you name it, Bombay Coast has it on their menu. This Indian spot is conveniently open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, making it an easy late-night dinner choice.

Two beers and a dish of food.
Bombay Coast offers lowkey options at an affordable price.
Bombay Coast

Himalayan Cuisine

With a menu featuring Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan cuisine, this La Mesa restaurant is a great choice for people who want to switch things up a little bit.

Biryani next to a dish of sauce.
Himalayan Cuisine provides dishes sourced from a number of countries.
Himalayan Cuisine

Himalayan Yak & Yeti

Popular items at this Indian restaurant include veggie samosas, chicken momo, aloo kobi, and, of course — naan.

A very close-up photo of naan.
This restaurant provides powerhouse dishes, from the naan to the entrees.
Himalayan Yak & Yeti

India Palace

Hot on the delivery circuit and equally popular during lunch and dinner hours. Hillcrest’s India Palace serves quality versions of dishes found on many Indian menus like tikka masala, biryanis, channa masala, aloo gobi and more.

Curryosity on Juniper

Curryosity, which brought a welcome Indian food infusion into South Park, serves a range of traditional curries but there are some surprising twists on the menu like curry waffle fries.

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