Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina, but this is not what makes it a great place for Indian food. It’s the restaurants that are doing the best job of providing patrons with an enjoyable experience during their time at these establishments.
Indian food is a staple in Raleigh and surrounding areas. The popularity of Indian cuisine continues to grow. There are many Indian restaurants around Raleigh, but there are only a few who are worthy of the title of “best”.
Listed below are 10 best Indian restaurants in Raleigh that have earned their spot through great service, delicious food, and overall value. You won’t find better Indian food in the Triangle than at any one of these establishments.
Table of Contents
10 Best Indian Restaurants in Raleigh are listed below:
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Kabab and Curry
Address: 2412 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
Opening Hours:
Sunday to Saturday: 11:30AM–10PM
Website: kababandcurrync.com
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/kababcurrync
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Kabab and Curry is situated in the middle of Hillsborough Street. The mission of Kabab and Curry is to deliver the greatest Indian and Nepalese cuisine in Raleigh while giving guests a wonderful dining experience.
Using genuine and fresh ingredients, the Chef, who has more than 20 years of experience, takes delight in crafting mouthwatering flavours that will have you coming back for more. They have both indoor and outdoor seats available, and you can even reserve a room to have an event if you’d like.
Their menu offers a diverse selection of delectable kebabs and curries, as their name would imply. One of their most well-liked offerings is the samosa, which is available with either a potato or lamb filling.
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Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Address: 105 Friendly Dr #101, Raleigh, NC 27607
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 11:30AM–2:30PM, 5:30–10PM
Friday and Saturday: 11:30AM–2:30PM, 5:30–10:30PM
Sunday Closed
Website: www.lnlrestaurant.com
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/lnl.raleigh/
Lime & Lemon Indian Grill provides a unique eating experience with beautiful cuisine that transport you to India’s various regions, traditions, and festivals.
They meticulously curate recipes that are unique, unparalleled, and ageless by employing only the greatest ingredients. All of this in a cutting-edge setting to ensure your eating experience is nothing short of flawless.
Mainstays like as channa masala, saag paneer, and lamb vindaloo are available, as are less typical dishes such as navratan korma (a mild curry consisting of nuts, veggies, and dried fruit) and the distinctive mango-lime chicken.
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Kadhai the Indian Wok
Address: 6260-112 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 11:30AM–2:30PM, 4:30–9PM
Saturday: 12–3PM, 4:30–9PM
Sunday Closed
Website: www.theindianexpresskadhai.com
Social Media: https://instagram.com/kadhaitheindianwok
Kadhai the Indian Wok is located on Glenwood Avenue, close to H&B Business and a block from Pleasant Valley Promenade shopping centre. Their chef got a Top Chef award out of 1,500 Indian cooks, so anticipate a high-quality food.
There are more “traditional” menu items such lamb vindaloo, chicken korma, and aloo tiki, but there is also an Indo-Chinese menu with chicken Manchurian, fried rice, and chilli paneer.
Other distinctive menu items include lamb Patiala, prepared in the manner of Patiala state’s royal courts with a fragrant masala blend of minced onion, ginger, garlic, and spices, and goat dhansak, a kind of curry heavy on lentils that originated with the Parsi Zoroastrian peoples.
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Taj Mahal
Address: 6611 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615
Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30AM–9:30PM
Monday Closed
Website: raleighindianrestaurant.com
This traditional Indian restaurant can be found on Falls of Neuse Road, just next to the Dollar Tree. There are many mouthwatering menu options at this restaurant, which also features a calm, welcoming atmosphere for families. Try their chicken reshmi kebab or tandoori fish if you’re looking for something tasty and filling.
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Dharani Express
Address: 3281 Avent Ferry Rd #117, Raleigh, NC 27606
Opening Hours:
Sunday: 11:30AM–3PM, 5:30–9PM
Tuesday to Thursday: 11:30AM–3PM, 5:30–9:30PM
Friday and Saturday: 11:30AM–3PM, 5:30–10PM
Monday Closed
Website: www.dharaniexpressnc.com
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/DharaniexpressIndianRestaurant/
Dharani Express has a relaxed atmosphere that is also very family-friendly. This Indian restaurant serves a variety of appetisers, entrees, and desserts.
Dharani Express serves all types of Indian cuisine and is especially well-known for its Indian BUFFET. The goal is to be consistent in serving the best Indian dishes and providing excellent customer service.
The chefs are enthusiastic about providing customers with authentic Indian cuisine. Each recipe at Dharani Express is meticulously prepared under constant supervision.
This attention to detail is especially important because they want their customers to enjoy not just good but the best Indian food that is cooked perfectly, making this restaurant one of the best Indian Restaurants in Raleigh.
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Milad Indian Cuisine
Address: 3212 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
Opening Hours:
Sunday to Saturday: 11:30AM–1AM
Website: miladnc.com
Milad Authentic Indian Cuisine is a popular destination for foreigners and residents seeking an authentic steakhouse experience. They worked hard to package the meals in such a way that you may bring the quality of the meals into your own home.
They always prefer to see you in person, but even when they can’t, they make sure your eating experience is exceptional. The restaurant will not compromise on quality. As a result, it obtains its fresh ingredients from local farmers’ markets. You may eat the best of the season no matter what time of year it is.
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Zayka Indian Cuisine
Address: 10410 Moncreiffe Rd suite 103, Raleigh, NC 27617
Opening Hours:
Sunday: 12–3PM, 5–10PM
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 11AM–2:30PM, 5–10PM
Friday: 11AM–2:30PM, 5–10:30PM
Saturday: 12–3PM, 5–10:30PM
Website: zaykaraleigh.com
Zayka provides an authentic dining experience for guests by serving traditional Punjabi Northern Indian cuisine and native beverages.
There is a range of dishes on the menu, each prepared with original ingredients, spices, and style and brought to your table with appropriate garnishing and sides. The emphasis on fresh and different veggies and sauces is critical to improving Zayka’s flavours. The bar also serves an intriguing assortment of drinks, wine, and beer.
Zayka Indian Cuisine has something for everyone, whether you want nutritious vegetarian or non-vegetarian cuisine, a gentle, hot, or spicy supper, or gluten free, vegan, or Jain alternatives. Zayka Indian Cuisine invites you to enjoy fantastic quality dining with their pleasant and well-trained team.
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Azitra Indian Culinary Nirvana
Address: 8411 Brier Creek Pkwy Ste 101, Raleigh, NC 27617
Opening Hours:
Sunday: 11:30AM–2:30PM
Monday to Thursday: 11:30AM–2:30PM, 5–10PM
Friday: 11:30AM–2:30PM, 5–11PM
Saturday: 12–3PM, 5–11PM
Website: www.azitra.us
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/AzitraRaleighNC
This restaurant features a beautiful, classy environment and both indoor and outdoor dining alternatives. They even offer lounge areas where you may conduct private events.
Azitra’s Brier Creek location provides lunch, supper, and weekend brunch, and the menu is unlike anything else in the Triangle. Azitra serves peppercorn mango lamb, pahadi murgh jhinga khurmani (tandoori chicken and shrimp in an apricot cream sauce), and amritsari salmon tikka in a North Indian-style marinade, in addition to naans, dals, and biryanis.
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Cheeni Indian Food Emporium
Address: 1141 Falls River Ave, Raleigh, NC 27614
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8AM–8:30PM
Saturday: 8–11AM
Sunday Closed
Website: cheeniraleigh.com
Social Media: https://instagram.com/cheeniraleigh
Part restaurant, part café, and part school, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium serves Indian cuisine. The cafe-style menu is divided into two sections: a section for all-day tiffins that includes street food-like items like samosas, masala fries, and the Bombay sandwich (buttered soft white bread with cilantro-mint chutney, filled with salted, sliced tomatoes, and cucumbers), and a section for lunch and dinner that offers larger dishes.
Aça bowls, a toast bar, soup of the day, smoothies, and Sugar & Spice cookies are just a few of the American grab-and-go options in addition to tiffin.
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Biryani Maxx Indian Cuisine
Address: 590 E Chatham St STE 102, Cary, NC 27511
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 11AM–2:30PM, 5:30–9:30PM
Friday: 11AM–2:30PM, 5:30–10PM
Saturday and Sunday: 11AM–3PM, 5:30–9:30PM
Website: biryanimaxx.com
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/biryanmaxx/
Every time you place an order or eat in at Biryani Maxx, they want you to have the greatest experience possible.
Biryani lovers can rejoice since a whole restaurant is devoted to the well-known rice delicacy. The chef’s special resembles an Indianized Chipotle bowl and consists of a choice of protein over a hot bowl of spicy rice. Additionally, there are specialised biryanis including egg biryani, Lucknowian goat biryani, and Hyderabadi chicken dum biryani.
Along with a variety of appetisers, breads, and sweets, there is also a selection of non-biryani meals such lamb kebab, butter chicken, and malai kofta.
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Conclusion
As a native of India, I know how hard it is to find good Indian food in the Triangle. I’ve scoured the suburbs and traveled all over North Carolina looking for the best Indian restaurants in Raleigh. After much research, above are 10 of my favorite Indian restaurants in Raleigh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Raleigh have a good food scene?
Raleigh currently has one of the most interesting food scenes in the state, shattering the stereotype of its stodgy downtown eating.
What dish is Raleigh, North Carolina known for?
Barbecue. They take their barbecue seriously since North Carolina is known as the barbecue state.
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