1/9
Mr. Masala
If the name rings a bell from shopping for dinner ingredients, it isn't by mistake: the owners also run Masala Market, where what you buy has likely arrived straight from India. And the same authenticity applies to the dishes at Mr. Masala including daal gosh (lentils with lamb), samosa (fried or baked pastry with savoury fillings) or kebab masala (kebab with special spices). These are all finger-lickin' good and the portions are huge. They have vegetarian and vegan dishes, so nobody leaves the place hungry. The dishes aren't as spicy/hot as they are at some other restaurants, and they can deliver everything to you if you don't feel like leaving home.
2/9
Hathi Indiai Kifőzde
You've surely heard rumours about a small place in Angyalföld (in District XIII), where the food is better than the paintings and graffitis covering the outer walls. Okay, maybe that's still not too tempting, but believe us: Hathi is a hidden gem, with great price/quality/portion ratio and a shrimp vindaloo that is so hot and tasty, that you must order a mango lassi and pray for redemption. Other dishes to try include the lamb korma (lamb with creamy, mild curry with coconut and ginger flavours), raita (yoghurt with chopped cucumber, spices and cilantro), nurani kebab, or any of the tandoori dishes, which are baked in a tandoor oven. Home delivery is also an option in the following districts: III, IV, V, VI, XIV.
3/9
Bollywood Vegetarian Bar
As the name suggests, the dishes at Bollywood Vegetarian Bar are so good that they could be the stars of a big-budget blockbuster. This one of Budapest's Indian restaurants is vegetarian, so obviously the meat is left out of the dishes. Before we list the dishes you must try, we must say that you can ask for non-hot, spice-free, vegan variations or ask for extra curry. Our favourites include Tandoori Paneer (Indian cheese, marinated in tandoori masala and then grilled with vegetables), Palak Paneer (Indian cheese in spinach curry) and the mango lassi. The portions are big, the dishes aren't overcomplicated, the atmosphere is more than welcoming.
4/9
Curry House
Curry House isn't as wallet-friendly as most of the other places on this list, but believe us, the dishes made by Chef Shyam Shrestha (who has worked at some of the biggest hotels in Dubai) is worth paying a bit more for. All the ingredients are carefully selected, authentic and fresh, and the kitchen uses some really special cooking techniques that guarantee a tasty meal. There is a daily menu and you can order well-known favourites or specialties like gulab jamun (Indian donut drenched in sweet syrup) or pani puri (crispy fried Indian bread filled with tamarind chutney, chili, chaat masala, potato, onion and chickpeas). What makes this place stand out even more are the drinks that are prepared by Saurabh Mathur, who was a mixer at places like Hard Rock Mumbai. Believe us, you are in good hands here.
Address: 1085 Budapest, Horánszky Street 1.
Phone: + 36 1 264 0297
Open: Monday - Sunday 11am – 11pm
5/9
Taj Mahal
The name of the place speaks for itself: Indian dishes, prepared with authentic methods and Indian import ingredients. The menu at Taj Mahal lists around 100 specialities, like tandoori grill dishes, Indian cheese grilled with hot spice oil; tiger prawn in cashew-tomato sauce; a mixed pakora plate; lamb in all forms; and Indian pistachio and mango ice cream. You can choose from a range of Hungarian and international wines to go with your meal.
6/9
Maharaja
The Jham family is traditionally involved in food and restaurant profession, so it shouldn't be surprising that they also run one of the best Indian restaurants in Budapest. At Maharaja, prices are reasonable, the portions are big and although you're surely already tired reading this, they only use fresh and authentic ingredients when preparing their dishes. Speaking of dishes: papardam (spicy, thin and crispy lentil flakes), achari chicken tikka (chicken breast grilled with achari sauce), saagwala chicken (chicken prepared with creamy spinach), shikrani (yoghurt flavoured with sugar, coconut and cinnamon) and pistachios kulfi (Indian pistachios sweet, served cold) are just some of our favourites. Home delivery is available across most of Budapest.
Address: 1074 Budapest, Csengery Street 24.
Phone: +36 1 351 1289
7/9
Shalimar
You would never expect one of Budapest's shabbier streets to hide such a high quality Indian restaurant, serving the best curry in town, but number 53 Dob Street offers this really pleasant surprise. Shalimar has been chosen best Indian restaurant in Budapest on multiple occasions. Indian restaurants in general employ two types of chefs: one for Tandoori dishes the other for curry. Shalimar also works this way. You can consume your fragrant meal and special refreshments on the small terrace or inside the spacious, well-lit and overall nice restaurant.
8/9
Haveli
Although Haveli (which is also the name of an Indian sub-continent) opened not so long ago, it has already made quite a name among locals as one of the Indian restaurants worth trying. Although portions could be bigger, everything is really tasty and as authentic as an Indian dish in Budapest could be. There are a lot of tables in a well-lit area, but if you are afraid of a full house, you can reserve a table online – and if you do so, your dessert is on the house! Our favourites are jeera pappad (crispy lentil based pancake with black pepper and cumin, roasted in clay oven), the special vegetable platter (flavoured vegetable slices served with chutney), subzi haveli (seasoned vegetables battered and then tossed in a secret caramelised onion sauce) and sarso ka saag (mustard leaves, kasoori methi, spinach, green chili, galic and ginger with onions).
Address: 1063, Budapest, Szinyei Merse Pál Street 1.
Phone: +36 1 426 4897
Open: every day 11:30am - 10pm
9/9
Kashmir
The central location, the immaculate interior design, friendly service and the mystic in the atmosphere of the restaurant places Kashmir in the highest league of Budapest's Indian restaurants. Their kitchen represents mostly the north Indian and Kashmiri dishes, which are usually based on nuts, dried fruits, cream and butter. Everything is carefully prepared with fresh ingredients and authentic spices. Every day they have a buffet lunch, which includes three courses. Of course, you can also just choose dishes from the menu as well. Some of our favourites dishes include the bombay aloo (pan fried potato with tomato), kashmiri chicken (with fruit, nuts and deep fried gravy sauce), kadhai (ginger, capsicum and tomato gravy), daal makhani (whole black lentils with ginger and garlic).
Address: 1051 Budapest, Arany János Street 13.
Phone: +36 1 354 1806
Open: Tuesday - Sunday 12pm - 4pm and 6pm - 11pm
