08 Feb Eater: 15 Essential Indian Restaurants in Los Angeles 2019 Edition
Curry, naan, vindaloo, and chaats across the LA area
By Eater Staff
With the outstanding restaurant communities of Koreatown, Thai Town, and Sawtelle Japantown located near the heart of LA County, it is easy to overlook the cluster of authentic Indian restaurants all the way out in Artesia. That area, known as Little India, is known for its amazing collection of fantastic food, but it’s far from the only place to find great regional Indian specialities in Southern California. There’s a wealth of outstanding eateries that specialized in the deliciously complex, deftly spiced cuisine from the deep Valley all the way down to the South Bay. Here are the 15 essential Indian restaurants in Los Angeles, from north to south.
Added: All India Cafe, Bombay Beach, Charga, Lal Mirch
Dropped: Al Watan Halal Tandoori, Paradise Biryani Pointe, Spice Affair, Surati Farsan,
1. Anarbagh Restaurant
22721 Ventura Blvd
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(818) 224-3929
The Woodland Hills outlet of Anarbagh Indian Restaurant continues to shine after nearly 20 years in business, expanding to locations across the Valley and beyond. Chef Mohammed Miah works a collection of classic dishes, from curries to chicken tikka to tandoori options on down.
2. Paru’s
5140 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 661-7600
This South Indian restaurant has been a beloved East Hollywood staple since 1979. While the fare is strictly vegetarian, it isn’t hard to find something to please all, with delicious specialties like those big, crispy dosas, and thali plates that offer a little taste of some of the best Paru’s has to offer.
3. IndiMex Eats Restaurant
1106 N Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 467-7462
There’s nothing formal or traditional about IndiMex in Hollywood. The hole in the wall shop sits just off a car wash and lovely announces itself with bold colors and sign proclaiming a happy mash-up between Mexican and Indian fare. The masala fries and lamb nachos alone are worth a stop.
4. Badmaash
418 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(213) 281-5185
The hype is real at Badmaash on Fairfax. The second location of the popular modern Indian spot from the Mahendro family runs daily from lunch through dinner, and has doubled down on its collection of natural wines and craft beer. The result is a busy, fun-filled anytime spot right on one of LA’s hottest blocks. Just look for the can’t-miss-it neon Hindi sign.
5. Mayura Indian Restaurant
10406 Venice Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-9644
Perhaps the most lauded restaurant on the Indian food forum, Culver City’s Mayura also scored a spot on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants in LA. The Kerala restaurant specializes in vegetarian fare, with favorites that include eggplant masala, aloo gobi, and dosas, but also has a separate kitchen that prepares North Indian halal meat dishes.
6. Tumbi
115 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 829-7200
Santa Monica is filled with casual Indian concepts, but Tumbi takes a modern approach with farmers market ingredients and lots of new presentation. Add in the craft beer and wine for a night out on the town with flavors that might feel familiar, but could only happen in greater Los Angeles.
7. Zam Zam Market
13649 S Inglewood Ave
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 978-1927
This relocated market and restaurant serves some of the most fiery and intense Pakistani and South Asian cooking in the LA area, with a humble spot down in Hawthorne. Order the biryani and chicken karahi, then share a platter of the excellent tandoori chicken.
8. Al-Noor Restaurant
15112 S Inglewood Ave
Lawndale, CA 90260
(310) 675-4700
Al-Noor is a convenient ten-minute drive from LAX, making it quite the spot to refuel after a day of traveling. This Lawndale strip mall gem offers great takes on all the favorites, but ask any one of the family members that run the small operation for a recommendation, and they might steer you to something you haven’t tried, like Pakastani nehrani. The braised beef shank sits in a savory gravy that is a nice counterpoint to creamier curries, and is best enjoyed topped with fresh julienned ginger and jalapeno and a side of wheat flour paratha.
9. Rajdhani
18525 Pioneer Blvd
Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 402-9102
While there are many great Indian restaurants in Little India, Rajdhani is always a safe bet. This Western Indian specialist also shines with its vegetarian thalis, or big metal platters with various bowls of vegetable curries to eat with freshly made bread.
10. Jay Bharat
18701 Pioneer Blvd
Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 924-3310
North Indian cuisine is the name of the game here, and the dish in question is the bhatura, a massive deep fried white flour bread that is used to soak up garbanzo beans in a tomato and onion gravy.
11. Addi’s Tandoor
800 Torrance Blvd #101
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 540-1616
One of the South Bay’s best restaurants is Redondo Beach’s Addi’s Tandoor. The strip mall restaurant feels rather upscale, and even takes reservations. Highlights from the Goan menu include eggplant baigan bharta and seafood dishes.
12. All India Cafe
316 N Brand Blvd
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 937-9966
After a decade of establishing itself in Pasadena, All India Cafe debuted on Brand Boulevard in early 2018. All India churns out masala dosa, samosas, chapati, and tandoori dishes. With a comfortable and open interior, All India Cafe has a bonus that many Brand Boulevard restaurants do not: easy street parking.
13. Chargha House
5571 Sepulveda Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230
(424) 228-4623
Most come to Charga House for its signature chicken charga. The char grilled dish is a sight for the eyes, in all its bright orange splendor. The Culver City restaurant is purely Indian-Pakistani, and the samosas, chicken tikka masala, or lamb karahi will definitely wow, but so will the very reasonable prices.
14. Lal Mirch
11138 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 980-2273
15. Bombay Beach
1338 W 7th St
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 378-0555
There’s a handful of Indian restaurant in Westlake, with the fairly new Bombay Beach jumping into the neighborhood last October. The room is a pleasant place to eat with tiles, wood, and cheerful blue and white colors. Bombay Beach maintains a Punjabi menu with chicken tikka, butter chicken, chana masala, naan, and samosas.
Source: Eater