The best Indian restaurants North India

The ideal place to discover the local culture around a good dinner; at your arrival you will be put the tika on your forehead. The place, superb and vast, recreates the atmosphere of a Gujarati village with large gardens, a small temple, a river, a lake... Sitting on the ground or at a table on one of the terraces, you will taste the unique menu: a sumptuous thali composed of a multitude of small dishes served on a large metal tray. In the evening, a traditional dance and puppet show is scheduled. An original concept and an experience not to be missed.

This restaurant has the particularity of having an open kitchen surrounded by large wooden tables. You can take shelter in the air-conditioned room, but you'll have to pay a supplement. In the plate, the traditions mix with the original ideas of the chef, in small portions. You can try the royal thali, a specialty of the Agashiye restaurant also in the House of MG. The frozen yogurt is a real treat, especially after a spicy dish. The most expensive address in its category, but the dishes are of high quality.

Don't be put off by the appearance of this small canteen. It is the best place to enjoy a Gujarati or Punjabi thali in Junagadh. In fact, only thali is on the menu, for lunch and dinner! This Indian specialty is composed of several small dishes that vary according to the day and the chef's inspiration, served as much as you like. To find Geeta Lodge, let yourself be guided by the crowd that gathers at meal times and the delicious smells that escape from the kitchens. Very reasonable prices and a local atmosphere.

Located on the top terrace of the rather old Stepwell House, the Jharokha 360° offers one of the most beautiful views of the Mehrangarh fort in the blue city. You feel very small in the shadow of the imposing iconic silhouette. The terrace has been very nicely furnished, with beautiful armchairs and sofas adorned with cream cushions that surround wooden coffee tables with metal legs. The menu offers a tour of North India with few suggestions, but they are effective: kebabs, tandoori chicken, lal maas or biryani.

This popular establishment, which already had a well-known address in Mumbai, has an ultra-modern room with a stylish design reminiscent of some European brands. The menu is relatively small but offers excellent Indian vegetarian dishes from Gujarat, Punjab and the south of the country: dosas, pav bhaji, parothas... Also hot drinks, pressed fruit juices and good ice creams. The diet food is tasty. Try the panki chatrui, a rice cake cooked between banana leaves.

A correct and comfortable restaurant, ideally located. The menu is quite varied and proposes Indian, Chinese, Mexican vegetarian specialities, pizzas... The establishment is run by the young and friendly Vicky, who also owns a small international bookshop next to the restaurant (and who even sells some books in French). The place is strategically placed to have a snack or a tea before or after your visit of the fort. Indian cooking classes are available.

Opened in 2018, this small café set below the fort is a real success story. Ignore the tiny room on the first floor to take shelter under the covered terrace upstairs. The setting is eclectic, messy and colorful just like the owner. Many backpackers find refuge here for a solid breakfast, a coffee, the time to write their logbook, or a meal before jumping on a bus or a train for their next destination. The service is a bit nonchalant, so it's better not to be in a hurry.

Originally, Karim's is a restaurant in the Muslim quarter of Old Delhi. It is famous for its Mughal cuisine, tandoor chicken and kebabs. While the Delhi address is particularly popular, the Jaipur address is showing some gentrification. The restaurant is located in one of the chic and residential areas of the capital of Rajasthan. The stone and wood setting is elegant. Armchairs and almond green benches break somewhat the monotony. You will find on the menu the specialties that made the reputation of the sign.

Daryaganj claims credit for butter chicken and dal makhani, two iconic specialties of Indian cuisine. The restaurant was originally founded in the Daryaganj district of Delhi, which was home to a large number of refugees fleeing Pakistan at the time of the partition of the country in 1947. Kundan Lal Jaggi was one of them and imported to Delhi his culinary knowledge inherited from the great Mughal tradition in Peshawar, where he was originally from. Daryaganj has several shops in town, which belong to the descendants of Lal Jaggi.

Located on a small crossroads in the old city, this tiny trailer-like shack is simply a must in Agra. The restaurant is famous for its malai kofta which is a sensation all over the world. It also offers a varied cuisine (Chinese, Indian, continental). The pressed juices and lassis are equally delicious. Don't miss the mango ones in season. Five tables with large benches and red chairs furnish the one and only room painted in bright yellow and pink with a starry ceiling.