One Indian restaurant in downtown Austin sits inside a historic brick building that shows up on local ghost tours, complete with old tunnels beneath it. That kind of surprise sums up the city’s Indian food scene pretty well.
Austin, Texas, has grown into a great place to eat dosas, biryani, thalis, and tandoori dishes. Some kitchens focus on fiery Chettinad or Andhra cooking from South India.
Others serve rich North Indian curries, pure vegetarian menus, or playful Tex-Mex fusion. Here are twelve spots that show just how wide the range really is.
1. Clay Pit Contemporary Indian Cuisine
Ghost stories and goat curry rarely share a menu, but they do at this downtown favorite. Clay Pit sits inside a historic brick building near the University of Texas, and the old structure is part of a local ghost tour.
Hidden tunnels beneath the building add to its legend.
The kitchen mixes classic Indian cooking with modern twists, which is why the name says “contemporary.” Curried mussels bring a coastal touch, while the goat curry stays loyal to tradition. Tandoori Tukde comes off the clay oven with smoky, charred edges.
Snackers should look at the samosa chaat and dahi puri, two vegetarian street-food classics stacked with crunch and tang. The menu also covers fully vegan and fully vegetarian diners, and the Madras soup is a vegan starter worth noting.
Mango lassi and mango lemonade make cool partners for spicy plates.
Brick walls give the dining room a cozy, old-Austin feel, and a private dining room handles bigger gatherings. Clay Pit even offers a braille menu, a thoughtful touch many restaurants skip.
College students fill tables at lunch, thanks to the Guadalupe Street location near campus.
Address: 1601 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701
2. Tikka House Indian Eatery
Butter chicken might be the most famous Indian dish in America, and Tikka House on South Lamar treats it with real respect. The creamy, tomato-rich sauce pairs perfectly with fresh garlic naan pulled warm from the kitchen.
Spice lovers get a fun bonus here. The kitchen cooks with bold flavors to begin with, and staff will happily turn up the heat on request.
That makes Tikka House a smart choice for anyone who thinks most Indian restaurants play it too safe.
Beyond butter chicken, the menu covers lamb rogan josh, a Kashmiri-style curry with deep red color and slow-cooked meat. Chicken 65 brings crispy, spicy bites, and Angarey tandoori chicken lives up to its name, which means “burning coals” in Hindi.
Vegetarians can lean on malai kofta, soft dumplings in a mild creamy gravy, or palak paneer made with spinach.
The South Austin location stays open late on weekends, until 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Curbside pickup and delivery make it easy to grab dinner on busy nights.
Parking is usually easy too, which is a rare gift on South Lamar.
Address: 2026 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
3. Sanjeevani Indian Cuisine
A thali is a whole meal on one big plate, with small bowls of curries, rice, bread, and sides arranged in a circle. Sanjeevani in North Austin has built its reputation on these platters, along with fragrant biryanis.
The cooking leans toward Andhra Pradesh, a South Indian state famous for fiery, punchy flavors. The Special Veg Thali is fully vegan and gives newcomers a tasty tour of many dishes at once.
Meat eaters often head for the Chicken 65 Biryani, which combines two crowd favorites into one dish.
Seafood fans should try the Pitapuram Prawns, named after a town in Andhra. Chicken Majestick is another house specialty.
For bread, the Chilli Garlic Bullet Naan brings real heat, while plain butter naan keeps things gentle.
Families get plenty of perks here, including a kids’ menu, high chairs, and changing tables. Dogs are welcome both inside and outside, which is unusual for a sit-down restaurant.
Note that Sanjeevani closes on Tuesdays and takes a break between lunch and dinner each day, reopening at 5:30 PM.
Address: 13717 Burnet Rd #450, Austin, TX 78727
4. Sankalp – The Taste of India
Some dosas are big, but the Super Paper Dosa at Sankalp is famously huge. This thin, crispy rice-and-lentil crepe can stretch past the edge of the plate, and it happens to be vegan.
Sankalp is part of a well-known Indian restaurant name, and its Austin location along I-35 blends North and South Indian cooking. Royal Butter Chicken and tandoori chicken cover the North Indian side.
Medu vada, savory lentil donuts with a crunchy shell, represent the South.
Chaat is another big draw. Pani puri features hollow, crispy shells filled with spicy, tangy water, and they are meant to be eaten in one messy bite.
Chole bhature pairs a giant puffy fried bread with spiced chickpeas, a filling dish popular in Delhi and Punjab.
The restaurant offers fully vegetarian and vegan menus, so plant-based diners have plenty of choices. A strong tea selection rounds out the meal, and mango lassi is a cool, sweet partner for spicy plates.
Late-night hours on Saturdays run until 11 PM, and kids get their own menu.
Address: 12901 N Interstate Hwy 35 #1830, Austin, TX 78753
5. Suprabhat
Not a single piece of meat appears on the menu at Suprabhat, and nobody seems to miss it. This Northwest Austin spot serves gourmet vegetarian Indian food, with a strong focus on South Indian classics.
The star of the show might be the 70mm Dosa, named after the wide movie film format because it is so long. Pongal, a comforting dish of rice and lentils cooked with black pepper and ghee, is a traditional South Indian breakfast.
Breakfast is actually served here, with doors opening at 10 AM on weekends.
Street food fans will find pav bhaji, a spiced vegetable mash served with buttery rolls, plus pani puri and dahi puri. Chilli paneer brings an Indo-Chinese twist with cheese cubes tossed in a tangy sauce.
The thali poori meal adds puffy fried bread to a full platter.
Desserts earn special attention, so the sweets counter deserves a look. The beautiful interior feels relaxed, and dogs are allowed inside and out.
Suprabhat does not take reservations, and Saturday afternoons and evenings get very busy.
Address: 9225 W Parmer Ln Ste 108, Austin, TX 78717
6. Sangam Chettinad Indian Cuisine
Chettinad is a region in Tamil Nadu known for some of the boldest cooking in all of India. Its chefs use black pepper, dried red chilies, and fennel generously, and Sangam Chettinad brings that fiery tradition to Northwest Austin.
The menu is long and covers many regional styles, with a mix of Chennai and Andhra flavors at its heart. Weekend breakfast runs from 8:30 to 10:15 AM on Saturdays and Sundays, a rare chance to enjoy a Mysore masala dosa early in the day.
That dosa comes brushed with a spicy red chutney inside before the potato filling goes in.
Chili paneer offers a crunchy, saucy Indo-Chinese option for vegetarians. Tandoori chicken satisfies the meat lovers, and a fresh lime soda cuts through the heat nicely.
For dessert, gulab jamun with ice cream pairs warm, syrupy dough balls with something cold.
The modest building hides a warm, welcoming dining room. Expect a wait during busy times, especially Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.
The kitchen also caters, so its Chettinad dishes show up at plenty of local celebrations.
Address: 6001 W Parmer Ln #140, Austin, TX 78727
7. New Sitara Indian Cuisine & Bar
Bright red walls set the mood the moment guests walk into New Sitara in North Austin. The bold interior matches a menu that pulls dishes from both North and South India, and the kitchen uses local produce in its cooking.
Garlic naan is a standout here, baked fresh and full of flavor. It pairs well with chicken tikka masala, a creamy classic.
Mango lassi makes a sweet, cooling side for spicier plates.
Adventurous eaters should explore the South Indian appetizers. Chicken 555 and Chicken Majestic are spicy, saucy fried chicken dishes popular in Hyderabad and Andhra restaurants.
Apollo Fish, another Hyderabad favorite, features crispy fish tossed with chilies and curry leaves. Gobi manchurian, crunchy cauliflower in a tangy sauce, keeps vegetarians happy.
The restaurant also offers an all-you-can-eat option, a great way to sample many dishes at once. Biryanis and generous portions are part of what keeps tables full.
New Sitara closes on Mondays, and weekend afternoons tend to be the busiest times of the week.
Address: 1779 Wells Branch Pkwy #102, Austin, TX 78728
8. Kuppanna
Strong South Indian filter coffee, served frothy in a steel cup, is one of the small joys at Kuppanna. This Northwest Austin restaurant focuses on Tamil Nadu cooking, especially biryani and dosas.
The chicken biryani comes as part of a full non-veg meal, giving diners a spread of sides with the fragrant rice. Mutton chukka is a dry, peppery goat dish that is a classic in Tamil homes.
Pallipalayam chicken, named after a town in western Tamil Nadu, is cooked with coconut slivers, dried red chilies, and curry leaves.
Breakfast is served on weekends, starting at 8:30 AM on Saturday and Sunday. That makes it a great place to try dosas and filter coffee the way many South Indian families enjoy them.
Weeknights also run late, with the kitchen open until 11:30 PM.
For those who like familiar flavors, chicken tikka masala and garlic naan are on the menu too. An all-you-can-eat option is available, and kids have their own menu.
Prices stay friendly, usually landing in the lower range for a full meal.
Address: 13376 Research Blvd #100, Austin, TX 78750
9. Asiana Indian Cuisine
Indo-Chinese food sits right beside dosas and tandoori chicken at Asiana in South Austin. This style of cooking was born in Kolkata, where Chinese immigrants blended their recipes with Indian spices, and Asiana keeps that tasty tradition alive.
Gobi manchurian is a good place to start, with fried cauliflower coated in a sweet, spicy, garlicky sauce. Goat biryani is one of the most popular dishes, layered with tender meat and fragrant rice.
The tandoori chicken comes out of the clay oven with a smoky crust.
Vegetarians have plenty to enjoy, including the Mysore masala dosa, which is vegan, and malai kofta in creamy gravy. Chicken curry and garlic naan cover the comforting basics.
An all-you-can-eat setup and a salad bar give diners more ways to build a meal.
Prices land in a reasonable range for the portion sizes. Families will appreciate the kids’ menu, high chairs, and changing tables.
Asiana also handles catering for events. Keep in mind that the restaurant closes on Wednesdays.
Address: 801 E William Cannon Dr #205, Austin, TX 78745
10. Nasha
Tacos stuffed with Indian curry might sound like a very Austin idea, and that is exactly the point at Nasha. This East 7th Street spot serves traditional curries alongside creative Tex-Mex fusion dishes.
The fusion side gets most of the buzz, with Indian-spiced tacos leading the way. Masala wings are juicy and coated in bold spices, and kheema masala brings flavorful spiced ground meat.
Lamb puff samosas wrap savory filling in flaky pastry instead of the usual crust.
Classic dishes hold their own too. The Millionaires Curry is a vegetarian house favorite, while vindaloo delivers serious heat.
Lamb biryani and vegetable biryani cover the rice lovers, and paneer naan offers a cheese-stuffed bread worth tearing into.
The lunch deal is a strong value, bundling an entree, two sides, rice, naan, and a dessert. Nasha stays open late, until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Outdoor seating and a dog-friendly policy fit the laid-back East Austin vibe, and the cozy interior works well for a quiet meal.
Address: 1614 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
11. Star of India
For more than 30 years, Star of India has been serving Northern Indian food on West Anderson Lane. That kind of long run makes it one of the veterans of Austin’s Indian dining scene.
The daily buffet is the big draw. It lets diners load up on tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and garlic naan without having to choose just one.
Plenty of vegetarian dishes appear on the buffet, too, making it an easy pick for mixed groups.
Ordering from the menu works just as well. Chicken biryani and Chicken 65 are popular picks, and the Maharani Dinner for One is a vegetarian sampler that brings several dishes to the table.
Mango lassi stays a sweet, creamy classic here.
Indian music plays in the background, adding to the cozy, elegant setting. Staff keep an eye on tables and refill drinks quickly.
Hours run late, with the kitchen open until midnight on most nights. Prices are among the friendliest on this list, which helps explain why this North Central Austin spot has lasted so long.
Address: 2900 W Anderson Ln. #12d, Austin, TX 78757
12. Saffron Austin
Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world, and this Northwest Hills restaurant puts it right into its bread. The saffron naan has become a signature item, and the stuffed version adds even more flavor.
The menu wanders in fun directions. Kathmandu kothey momo and chicken momo are dumplings from Nepal, with kothey meaning pan-fried on one side.
Chow mein also appears, reflecting the fusion side of the kitchen. Stuffed jalapenos give a little Texas nod to the lineup.
Curry lovers should look at the Saffron Chicken Lazeez, a house specialty, plus rogan josh, lamb bhuna, and goat curry. Saffron scallops offer something you will not find at most Indian spots in town.
Paneer tikka masala and butter chicken cover the creamy favorites, and chicken lollipops make a crunchy starter.
Lunch-tray combos are a strong value for weekday meals. The quiet dining room suits a calm dinner.
Saffron even stayed open during the 2021 Texas winter storm, earning extra loyalty from the neighborhood when many kitchens had to shut down.
Address: 3616 Far W Blvd #113, Austin, TX 78731
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