Walk down Colfax Avenue in Lakewood—where the Rockies meet the city—and you’ll taste a culinary migration. Beyond the strip malls, you’ll find family-run spots simmering butter chicken for decades, modern kitchens reimagining dosas, and a lunch buffet that’s become a local institution. New chefs arrive with fresh ideas, but the classics keep drawing crowds back for more.
Bombay Clay Oven (Indian Restaurant)
$ | (303) 320-3020 | WEBSITE
Lakewood has many solid curry houses and sit-down Indian restaurants. Try them all, but begin at Bombay Clay Oven. The welcoming spot on the north end of town has been serving consistently delicious food for years, and it’s firmly established itself as one of Colorado’s best. Baked fresh in the clay oven, the naan is fluffy and warm, with big bubbles of air.
Enjoy the chicken tikka masala with rich tomato sauce and tender pieces of chicken, or the smaller plates with a variety of sauces for those with lighter appetites. Both are served with the owner’s personal touch, as Marshall often greets guests and provides thorough taste tests. The large portions and great selection of sides make for a satisfying meal, all delivered with exceptional service that goes above and beyond.
With its fun atmosphere and top-notch hospitality, Bombay Clay Oven is a must-visit destination for Indian cuisine lovers.
Yak and Yeti Restaurant and Brewpub
$$ | (303) 431-9000 | WEBSITE
Yak and Yeti is an Indian brewpub for people who want to sample flavors without committing to a single dish. The turret seating and easy-conversation layout—especially popular with families—will give you that relaxed neighborhood spot feeling, except now you can get a spicy jalapeno ale with your Tikka Masala. There’s an amazing buffet with freshly made dishes, as well as attentive servers who accommodate dietary restrictions with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
At $18-$25 per person for the buffet, it’s a solid value, and the standout Tikka Masala manages to be creamy, rich, and perfectly spiced in all the right ways.
Haveli Indian Cuisine
$$ | (303) 798-5066 | WEBSITE
Chicken tikka masala shouldn’t be this consistently amazing. The dish sounds too familiar, but Haveli Indian Cuisine executes it flawlessly. Order your favorites like the Murghana Masala or lamb biryani in what feels like a very cozy dining room that also serves excellent chai tea. Served with fresh garlic naan, the curries are flavorful and authentic. You can also enjoy them with the in-house hot sauce, or you could start with the eggplant tandoori, or chicken korma over rice.
TIKKA MASALA INDIAN CUISINE
$ | (720) 549-2211 | WEBSITE
Should you need a perfect, spicy curry—or maybe a flavorful biryani—Tikka Masala Indian Cuisine is the answer. The place has been around for years, although it remains a hidden treat, and they offer excellent takeout options from their casual spot in Lakewood. The simple, straightforward room features a counter where you can order generous portions of outstanding dishes like Veggie Thaali and Chicken Curry.
They also serve naan breads, such as the excellent Garlic Naan, and one of the finest customized dishes in the area: a chicken biryani that’s flavorful and well-made.
Spice Trade Brewery / Yak & Yeti Restaurant
$$ | (303) 431-9000 | WEBSITE
If you’re craving some curry fries or a bowl of Tikka Masala, Spice Trade Brewery / Yak & Yeti Restaurant can help with that. The cozy spot is packed with the aromas of Indian spices, and there’s a buffet in the back where you can load up on many dishes. The flaky samosas are essential, and you should also get some Vindaloo, Makhani, and a pint of the spicy Jalapeno Pilsner. You can easily spend around $25 and walk away with a belly that’ll test your waistband.
Little India Restaurant & Bar 6th Ave
$$ | (303) 871-9777 | WEBSITE
Little India makes a strip mall location feel like a celebration. Probably because this restaurant, in the former diner space, is also full of warm spices and staff speaking Hindi to each other over Bollywood beats. Focus on the vegetarian buffet, which comes with naan and a mango lassi for just $12 and arrives steaming from the kitchen. The creamy butter chicken bathing in a tomato-based sauce with chunks of tender paneer sure goes well with a basketful of garlic naan.
India Oven
$ | (303) 756-5866 | WEBSITE
On a Tuesday afternoon you’ll find the lunch crowd at the chain spots in Lakewood, but the real discovery is tucked away 5 minutes off the main drag, at India Oven. This unassuming Indian spot has been perfecting its garlic naan recipe since it opened, and if you’re now thinking to yourself “who goes for Indian buffet,” stop right there, because at India Oven, everyone does.
Come here for a family meal, or just when you’re craving a samosa in a dining room with patterned tiles on the ceiling adding quirky charm, and big groups lingering over plates of well-spiced curry, with warm naan bread being passed back and forth across the tables.
Tikka & Grill 2- 6Th Ave
$$ | (303) 872-3409 | WEBSITE
Tikka & Grill 2-6Th Ave comes from a family-run tradition, but it’s a little more approachable, a little more cozy, and home to a surprise free dessert or appetizer. The food at this Indian-Nepalese spot is delicious, especially the chicken tikka masala and cheese naan, but the attentive, cheerful service is what makes it a Denver favorite.
And even though the menu can be a bit overwhelming with its wide regional range, on a night when you just want to share a basket of that famously perfect naan in a nice window booth, you’ll make it work. We also like this place for its reasonable prices, when fresh-made saag paneer and dishes that are bursting with flavor are available.
Curry & Grill 2 Indian Nepali Cuisine
$$ | (303) 736-8017 | WEBSITE
Before there was the latest trendy spot, there was Curry & Grill 2. The original Lakewood Indian and Nepali restaurant, around for a good while now, isn’t as flashy or new as some other places in the area, but the food still holds up. For a satisfying lunch, stop by and try some fantastic butter chicken or chicken vindaloo with a side of cheese naan. You should, obviously, take advantage of the lunch buffet sitting at the end of the dining room, preferably for the great deal of $12.99.
Himchuli – Highlands Indian & Nepali Cuisine
$$ | (303) 728-9957 | WEBSITE
There will be evenings when you decide that a basic curry simply won’t cut it. You need a better dinner, but who’s going to provide it? The korma at Taj Palace is a very decent choice, and the vindaloo at Everest always gets the job done, but Himchuli is the first spot you should think of. Tender on the inside and richly spiced throughout, their lamb korma is the perfect vehicle for huge, heavenly chunks of meat and aromatic sauce.
Later in the week, swing by for chicken kadai or rogan josh with fresh naan.
Curry Kingdom An Indian Eatery
$$ | (303) 422-3665 | WEBSITE
The many Indian restaurants of Lakewood range from casual to upscale. Curry Kingdom An Indian Eatery, a popular spot among locals, is a go-to destination in the field, and it makes an incredible Chicken Tikka Masala. Get the classic version, which comes with tender chicken that simmers and satisfies as it goes down. They also do a version with paneer, in addition to a few different curries and a Rogan Josh with Colorado lamb.
On your way out, pick up some naan and a glass of Paul John Indian single malt whisky.
Little India Restaurant and Bar
$$ | (303) 937-9777 | WEBSITE
Wherever you are in Lakewood, you’ll always be within a few blocks of a very decent Indian restaurant. If it’s specifically butter chicken you’re after—and it should be—head to Little India Restaurant and Bar. The rich, flavorful sauces here make all the difference. Try the mild butter chicken served with fluffy basmati rice. It’s one of the best bites you’ll find in the neighborhood. We’re also fans of the chicken tikka masala, and the shrimp tandoori is great for when you’re extra hungry.
Little India Restaurant & Bar Wash Park/DU
$$ | (303) 298-1939 | WEBSITE
This family-run Indian spot in the Wash Park/DU area seems unassuming, with slightly worn upholstery and a lived-in charm, and a constant hum of Bollywood classics in the background. But Little India is actually a very serious restaurant that pumps out seriously flavorful, authentic dishes, like a chicken korma that’s rich with cream and perfectly spiced. It also happens to be a very welcoming place to go out for dinner or a casual weeknight meal.
Get one garlic naan for every two people, and if you want to try their chicken tikka masala, go during peak hours because it’s consistently praised by regulars. The attentive service, especially from dedicated staff like Yahya, makes the reasonably priced experience even better, leaving you craving more of their garam masala-spiced rice and other menu favorites.
India Express Denver
$$ | (303) 331-8220 | WEBSITE
India Express Denver can seat, at most, a dozen people comfortably at one time. The modest dining-room spot serves over 20 different kinds of curries—from butter chicken to vegetable masala—all of which come with fluffy basmati rice. There are no wrong choices, but we’re partial to the chicken korma and classic samosa, with its crisp pastry shell. Other offerings include garlic naan, tamarind chutney, and a very good cup of complimentary chai.
Keep an eye out for their recommended India beer pairings.
Little India Downtown Denver
$ | (720) 707-9498 | WEBSITE
Indian food is a big part of Lakewood. There are a lot of good delivery spots and sit-down restaurants, but the one we spend the most time at is this late-night spot in downtown Denver. Take a seat in the warm, bustling dining room and enjoy some rich butter chicken, flavorful biryani, or a platter with lamb vindaloo, cheese naan, and garlic naan. Before you leave, take a long look at the generous portions and bold spice flavors that fill the air.
Unique Indian Cuisine
$$ | (303) 756-0744 | WEBSITE
For a satisfying meal that’ll cost you around $18 per person, pick Unique Indian Cuisine every time. The calm Indian restaurant serves some of the most tender butter chicken in the area, as well as garlic naan that has a perfect flaky texture. Your choices also include tandoori chicken, chicken saag, shrimp noodles, and roughly a dozen other dishes that will leave you with delicious leftovers. Sit in the clean, softly-lit dining room up front, or order at the counter, and take your food to go.