10 Best Indian Food Restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul

Sometimes, you just want Indian food.

Whether you’re craving the curries, dreaming of daal, or thirsting for the tikka, Minneapolis’s Indian food scene has it all.

In our search for the best Indian food in Minneapolis and St. Paul, we’ve visited everywhere from hole in the wall strip malls to fancy chef driven restaurants. Ultra popular food trucks to overlooked traditional restaurants…

Whatever you’re in the mood for, we’ve got you covered with our list of the best Indian restaurants in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the entire Twin Cities. 

Map of the Best Indian Food Restaurants in the Twin Cities

The most popular Indian restaurant near downtown Minneapolis: Gorkha Palace

Not only is Gorka Palace one of the most popular restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis, but it’s also one of the most popular restaurants in all of the Twin Cities! This fan favorite includes all the delicious curries you’d expect from a great Indian place, but the menu even expands out to Tibetan and Nepalese cuisine.

One thing that makes Gorka palace especially unique among all the Indian places in Minneapolis is their commitment to local, organic, and sustainable farming. They even make their ghee in house!

• Address: 23 4th St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
• Website: Gorkha Palace

Our #1 Indian spot in St. Paul: India House

This popular spot on Grand Avenue features all the Indian classics. As you probably guessed by now, we’re Chicken Makhani addicts, and India House whips up a great one. Add their perfectly cooked Garlic Naan, and this place is the convenient Indian experience that Lily finds herself craving on the regular. All of India House’s other staples are great, too, from Chicken Tikka Masala to Mushroom Josh and everything in between.

Oh, and pre-covid, they rocked one of the best Indian buffets around for lunch. Fingers crossed that comes back soon!

• Address: 758 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
• Website: India House

Our favorite butter chicken in the Twin Cities: Indian Masala (Maplewood)

Chicken Makhani, or more commonly known by its Americanized name”Butter Chicken”, is an absolutely mouth watering mix of chicken, rice, and… this part is important… the richest, most buttery buttery tomato sauce you’ve ever had. The result is a saucy, curry-like dish that’s become our “must-order” at any Indian restaurant which has it on the menu.

And for our money, Indian Masala, an unassuming hole-in-the-wall out in Maplewood, has by far the best version of it in The Twin Cities. Flavor-packed sauce and extra tender chicken… it doesn’t get any better than this unassuming hole-in-the-wall out in Maplewood!

• Address: 27 Century Ave N, Maplewood, MN 55119
• Website: Indian Masala

The best fancy Indian Food: Raag (Minneapolis/Edina)

Ran by the Food Network India superstar Ajar Chopra, Raag is a super cool Indian concept on the border of Minneapolis and Edina. Raag takes the casual Indian takeout experience and turns it right on its head, with gorgeous plating and unique constructions.

Nothing exemplifies this more than the popular Jal Tarang – a collection of five “fruity and spicy concoctions” which come out in a row of tasting glasses and are intended to be eaten with crispy pooris. (Fried balls which are extra airy and crispy)

Sound confusing? Strap in and enjoy the experience!

Oh, and if you’re looking for more traditional Indian options, then prepare to be blown away to what can happen to Butter Chicken when a master chef gets a hold of it.

• Address: 3812 W 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55410
• Website: Raag

Best Himalayan cuisine in Minneapolis: Himalayan Restaurant

Himalayan food is a melting pot of Nepali, Tibetian, and Indian food, and Himalayan Restaurant stays true to its name by specializing in that niche better than anyone. In filling all those regions, the menu is expansive, with everything from daal soups, tandoori meats, biryani, vegetarian entrees, and even fried rice!

For those that want to play it safe, the Chicken Tikka Masala is some of the best around, but we’d encourage you to veer off that beaten path a bit for an experience you won’t regret.

• Address: 2910 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
• Website: Himalayan Restaurant

The most fun Indian food spot in Minneapolis: Namaste Cafe

Namaste Cafe is an awesome Indian spot with a great atmosphere. Located in Uptown inside an old Victorian building, Namaste even includes a great outdoor patio when the weather’s nice.

Of course, it’s not just the atmosphere that keeps us coming back. Namaste has some of the best Indian food in the Twin Cities, bar none. Especially noteworthy is their lengthy and incredible vegetarian menu, but there’s also no way we could end this section without a shout out to their ultra-unique drinks. Mango Turmeric Mimosa, anyone?

• Address: 2512 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
• Website: Namaste Cafe

Our Favorite Momos: Everest on Grand

A lot of St. Paul locals have a lot of good things to say about Everest on Grand. And we won’t argue with any of that. However, there’s one reason in particular that Everest on Grand shows up on our list – their mind blowing Momos. There’s four options on the menu (Meat Momo is our go-to) but no matter what flavor you choose, you’ll get to dip it into their absolutely addicting Momo sauce.

It’s mouth watering just to talk about!

• Address: 1278 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
• Website: Everest on Grand

Best Indian Pizza: Bombay Pizza Kitchen (Eden Prairie)

Bet you didn’t expect that category! Bombay Pizza Kitchen brings an extra special twist to the Twin Cities Indian food scene – Indian pizza!

And let me tell you, you haven’t quite lived until you’ve experienced a Bombay Butter Masala pizza with a side of Garlic Naan Bites and Tandoori Masala wings. (Dipped in curry ranch, of course!) It’s a genius combination that you didn’t know was missing from your life.

• Address: 16518 W 78th St, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
• Website: Bombay Pizza Kitchen

Most popular fast-casual Indian: Hot Indian Foods

Since 2013, the humble Hot Indian food truck has grown into a full fledged Twin Cities staple, with permanent locations now in the Midtown Global Market, Minneapolis Skyway, and Mall of America. The rocket-ship expansion was fueled by their “Indurrito” – a Chipotle style, build-your-own Indian Burrito.

So you can imagine the Twin Cities’ collective surprise when owner Amol Dixit recently ditched his famous menu item completely. But don’t panic! Hot Indian replaced the Indurrito with an equally delicious (and more affordable!) “Kati Roll” – a street roll even more true to its Indian roots.

• Address 1: 920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
• Address 2: 121 S. 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402 (Temporarily Closed)
• Address 3: 3rd Floor, North Food Court, 60 E Broadway, Bloomington MN 55425 (Temporarily Closed)
• Website: Hot Indian Foods

Best South Indian food in Minneapolis: Kumars (Apple Valley)

Minneapolis has a hefty representation of Northern Indian food, which you can identify by their heavy use of garam masala seasoning, curries, and naan bread. As delicious as all that sounds, you’re probably still sleeping on the incredible cuisine of South India. Thankfully, Kumars down in Apple Valley brings South Indian food to Minneapolis.

With a menu filled with all the unique rice dishes, bread, soups, and other traditional meals from Southern India, this is a fun departure from the more common Indian cuisine around the cities.

• Address: 14871 Granada Ave, Apple Valley, MN 55124
• Website: Kumars