If you’re looking to spice up your dining routine for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, Boston.com readers have you covered.
We asked readers where to go for the best Indian food in the region and we received nearly 50 restaurant recommendations around the state.
More than 500,000 people have Asian ancestry in the state of Massachusetts and approximately 130,000 are a part of the Indian-identifying population, making the group the second largest in the state.
Coupling the rich Indian culture in the state with a diverse array of mouth-watering dishes native to the region, it’s no surprise that Boston.com readers are obsessed with the bountiful biryanis and authentic spice blends being served at Indian restaurants.
To serve the best Indian dishes in Massachusetts, Sukhi Singh, part owner of Tandoor and Curry, says listening to your customers is key.
“The customers are God to us,” said Singh. “Without them, we have nothing.”
Tandoor and Curry is a fast-casual takeout restaurant in Woburn with two roaming food trucks that Singh runs alongside his family who has helped to uplift the Indian dining scene for the past three decades. With his father as head chef, uncle running Passage to India nearby, and brothers as critical partners working to expand the business, their family is deeply rooted in the tradition of serving authentic Northern Indian food like chicken tikka masala and kathi rolls.
“The consistency is right there, because it’s Dad doing it all,” said Singh. “All of our spices get imported directly from India every week because when you start messing around in local departments, that’s when you kind of screw yourself over. It’s not like you can go to Trader Joe’s and pick up what we pick up.”
While Tandoor and Curry is a fast-casual dining experience, The Maharaja offers Indian fine dining.
“We really want people to just come in and like the food in a way that they keep coming back,” said co-owner Raj Punjabi. Ambience, service, an attentive bar, and a customer-focused experience are a part of what makes the restaurant highly rated among celebrities like Casey Affleck.
For Punjab cuisine, fusion-style dishes that cater towards the American palate are more successful. Some of his personal favorite menu items are the lamb chops and tandoori salmon.
“My kids, they’re born here and this is something that they can eat,” said Punjabi. “It is about executing day in and day out…making sure that after somebody comes in they leave very happy.”
Find our guide to reader-recommended Indian food spots below.
Map: Where to go for the best Indian food ????
Full list: Where to go for the best Indian food ?????