San Antonio boasts plenty of superb Indian restaurants, and the vibrant strip along Wurzbach Road should be bookmarked if you’re seeking authentic flavors. That said, there are stellar options downtown too. So, whether you’re craving buttery naan by the River Walk or fiery curries to satisfy a hungry crew in Alamo Heights, this list has you covered.
Biryani Pot
$ | (210) 561-8874 | WEBSITE
If you’re into aromatic spices and eating some incredibly flavorful biryani, Biryani Pot in San Antonio should be on your radar. Coming with family is a must, to demolish some butter chicken and work your way through their authentic Indian dishes. Friendly staff are undoubtedly part of the reason why it’s almost always busy with families. Dishes are prepared, presented, and served for you, so you can focus on that long-awaited catch-up instead of worrying about the heat.
Some classics like the Punjabi samosas could be spicier, but overall a meal here will make you happy. Get some of their chicken Dum Biryani, a mango drink, and whatever you do, order that garlic basil naan.
Pastries n Chaat(PBC Factory)
$ | (210) 352-5588 | WEBSITE
Authentic Indian street food with real depth is hard to come by and so is a place that masters both savory and sweet. Pastries n Chaat is the answer to both. The casual, yet wonderfully vibrant, Indian spot is filled with the type of people who know their bhel puri from their dahi batata puri. So while you won’t need a reservation, at least come hungry. The kitchen does all the hard work, preparing each dish with care, so all you have to do is enjoy it.
The $18 weekend special Thalapakattu Briyani is filled with enough aromatic rice and tender chicken to satisfy two people—our favourite is the Vijayawada Chicken Biryani and the fresh veggie patties.
Biryani Express San Antonio
$ | (210) 475-3919 | WEBSITE
We challenge anyone to go to Biryani Express San Antonio (in any mood) and not leave satisfied. The Vijayawada Veg Biryani is pleasingly aromatic and flavorful, the goat curry delightfully tender and mildly spicy, and the Egg Biryana richly seasoned. But it’s the side of genuine warmth from the friendly staff that’ll make you most content. They might slip you an extra piece of naan with the bill because you said you liked it, or fuss over making sure your takeout is well-packaged.
Know that the casual, inviting space is modest—i.e. twenty seats small. So get takeout during the dinner rush hour when families from across San Antonio descend, or snag an early spot for an unhurried lunch.
Tarka Indian Kitchen
$ | (210) 791-6904 | WEBSITE
Tarka Indian Kitchen is a San Antonio spot where we go for bold flavors and satisfying meals. Families share platters of garlic naan and solo diners savor bowls of malai kofta. Our favorite thing here, crispy vegetable pakoras, arrive with a smile and fill the cozy space with their aroma. The vegan mango lassi—creamy and refreshing, like a cool breeze on a spicy day—is a must too.
Just know that the dining room is straightforward, so save this for a casual meal with people who are more interested in delicious, generous portions than fancy decor.
Kohinoor Restaurant
$$ | (210) 314-8692 | WEBSITE
Just like the first bite of perfectly spiced biryani, we wait impatiently for our next visit to this cozy and inviting Indian spot in San Antonio. The signature tawa dishes at this warm and bustling restaurant come loaded with generous portions and homemade flavor. Think a platter of tender ginger chicken with fluffy naan bread around a mountain of fragrant rice, topped with a side of creamy shahi paneer.
There are layers, there’s a high chance of needing to share, and there’s no way you’ll be able to finish one dish yourself so bring an appetite. Snag a seat at the comfortable booth and get ready for a wonderful dining experience.
Tandoor Palace Indian Restaurant
$ | (210) 691-5900 | WEBSITE
At Tandoor Palace, know that you’ll need to arrive early to snag a prime spot at the buffet, no matter the time of day. But the line at this unassuming San Antonio gem moves efficiently and the exceptional Indian food justifies the wait.
Inside, Chicken Tikka Masala gets the reverence it deserves as the star of most plates, solo diners leave with multiple to-go containers because they’ve wisely over-served themselves, and everywhere people are tearing into flaky samosas, scooping up Keema Naan with their hands, and accidentally dripping masala sauce on the table or their shirt. Tandoor Palace sounds bustling but in truth, the atmosphere remains calm and the staff are pleasant.
India Palace
$ | (210) 692-5262 | WEBSITE
At India Palace in San Antonio, the buffet steals the show. The expansive spread has layers of tandoori chicken, creamy saag paneer, and perfectly spiced chicken masala, and our favourite part of the whole thing is the fresh, pillowy naan that’s made daily in-house. The Indian restaurant is a welcoming, vibrant spot—all clean tables and inviting aromas drifting around—where the consistent, delicious food matches the reasonable price tag.
Get the mango pudding too, which is some of the creamiest in Texas.
Spice Fine Indian Cuisine Biryani Place
$ | (210) 253-9658 | WEBSITE
We’re yet to meet a biryani with as much depth and spice as the one at Spice Fine Indian Cuisine. This San Antonio spot looks like an Indian restaurant, sounds like an Indian restaurant, and yet tastes 30% more authentic than anything you’ve tried in a typical curry house. You’ll get a mix of grill items, curries, and fresh drinks, which are prepared with care and served with genuine warmth.
When it comes to dishes, take our lead and go for the shrimp grill and the chicken Malani Kebabs, then settle into the comfortable seating and work your way through Texas’s most flavorful Indian food.
Turkey Palace
There are plenty of great Indian restaurants in San Antonio, but this one does a spicy lamb curry that’s worth seeking out in its cozy neighborhood spot. Approximately 10 minutes after the doors to Turkey Palace open, a steady stream of regulars and newcomers fill the small space, buffet trays are refreshed, and the aroma of freshly prepared naan and simmering sauces fills the air.
The lamb curry—a rich, aromatic dish with tender meat in a perfectly balanced spicy sauce—is a mouth-tingling, plate-clearing must. The room is simple and unassuming, but the service is warm and the food makes it worth visiting again.
The Lion Indian Cuisine
$ | (210) 257-6770 | WEBSITE
You. Me. Chicken tikka masala. As long as a meal at The Lion Indian Cuisine involves eating the creamy, aromatic chicken tikka masala, you’re doing it right. And the peaceful atmosphere at this San Antonio spot is just the cherry on top. Once you visit The Lion Indian Cuisine, you’ll be back here twice a month. It suits every mood: a solo meal including saag and naan-stained fingers.
Or a round-everyone-up in the cozy dining room kind of meal, where the “For The Pride” sizzling plate with chicken, lamb, and shrimp is laid on the table, family-style.
Taste Of India
$ | (210) 561-4409 | WEBSITE
A timid little eatery Taste Of India is not. The beloved Indian spot in San Antonio is warm and inviting from the outside and fragrant with spices once you step in. Traditional sitar music plays softly in the background and sizzling Chicken Tikka arrives from the kitchen. It’s inspired by authentic Indian home cooking—where you can savor, share, and linger with family over generous meals—and it’s a faithful execution.
The thali lunch and daily rotating dahls are prepared and presented with homemade care and the only thing more abundant than the flavors are the leftovers customers carry home.
Indian Food Stories
$ | (210) 639-6391 | WEBSITE
When everything feels overwhelming, Indian Food Stories’ Allam Chai makes it right. This isn’t just one of our favourite South Indian spots, it’s one of our favourite restaurants in San Antonio full stop. Aromatic previews of the dishes greet you before you decide what you’re ordering—which should be the Rava Masala Dosa (obviously) and the spicy chutney that comes with it.
It’s the kind of place you could bring your colleagues or your family, and everyone would leave in a better mood than when they walked in, thanks to the welcoming atmosphere, friendly service, and that comforting masala tea that’s said to relieve headaches.
Simi’s India Cuisine
$ | (210) 737-3166 | WEBSITE
Tucked away in San Antonio, Simi’s India Cuisine is one of the city’s go-to spots for authentic Indian flavors. There isn’t a tonne of space to wander in this cozy, culturally decorated dining room, and its dozen-or-so tables are dominated by locals enjoying the bountiful buffet or families sharing plates later on. Vegetable samosas and butter chicken are a must. The former is crispy on its golden edges and the latter is an always creamy and spice-filled delight.
Other standouts are fluffy and warm naan bread and a hearty, aromatic chicken biryani full of tender meat that’ll satisfy the heartiest of appetites. The friendly staff keeps everything moving smoothly, ensuring your chai—with its refreshing minty note—is never far from reach.
The Indian Night
$ | (210) 888-1235 | WEBSITE
When you find yourself in San Antonio, having just navigated the tricky parking situation, go to The Indian Night. This modern Indian spot with Bollywood vibes is accessible and easy to enter, because most dishes are very good. Goat Biryani that’s flavorful and a bit spicy is non-negotiable, though. The portion is generous, and will easily satisfy a table of four who are enjoying the Chicken Curry too. The lamb dishes are the ones to go for.
They include hearty options that pair perfectly with the excellent naan.
Madurai Mes – Authentic Indian cuisine
$ | (210) 524-8161 | WEBSITE
We like a concept. And this one’s pretty simple, completely foolproof, and all in the name. The Madurai-style biriyani at Madurai Mes in San Antonio has got a flavor that would make for some truly hypnotic eating, and the beverage taps pour filter coffee and fresh fruit juice into chilled glasses for consistently refreshing drinks.
It’s a casual spot with a does-the-job setup (read: family-friendly tables that kind of cramp your legs), and is perfect for an in-and-out portion of chole bhature for one, or a laid-back dinner with the family.
Indian Street Flavors
$ | (210) 907-9989 | WEBSITE
Lunch at Indian Street Flavors begins with office workers grabbing quick paneer frankies and stretches into families settling in for generous plates of chicken tikka. The Indian food truck in San Antonio doesn’t fuss with fancy decor, aside from some colorful Bollywood posters that glow against the stainless steel counter. And despite upbeat Hindi film songs playing from the speakers, it’s more relaxed than bustling in vibe. But the authentic, hearty flavors will keep you returning.
Pass on lighter bites like the samosa chaat, and focus on excellent mains with creamy paneer butter masala, balanced chicken sandwiches, and saucy paneer tikka frankies.
Delicious Indian Cuisine & Bar
$$ | (210) 986-1345 | WEBSITE
Delicious Indian Cuisine & Bar does a butter chicken that’ll sort out your soul. This warm spot is tucked near the Riverwalk and Alamo, but it’s not somewhere you come for a long, lingering dinner. Orders are taken with impeccable service and moments later your choices are shouted around the kitchen and ferocious sizzling begins. The creamy butter chicken, with tender pieces of chicken and aromatic spices, is our go-to.
But the garlic naan should be ordered like Matthew McConaughey’s martinis in The Wolf of Wall Street—two, then seven, and two more. And then, two more every five minutes until you pass out.
Himalayan Kitchen
$ | (210) 686-9669 | WEBSITE
Himalayan Kitchen—a lively Indian spot in San Antonio—is a fairly straightforward, satisfying restaurant. Sizzling chicken momos arrive with a tangy dipping sauce and the veggie samosas have a nice balance between crisp shell and soft filling. The dining room, well, there isn’t much to say about it. But that’s because done correctly, Himalayan Kitchen should be dinner and an experience. The playlist at this spot is a blast.
You’ll be surrounded by upbeat music, soundtracked by a mix of Bollywood and contemporary hits from the speakers and dinner will be served (with the requisite amount of naan) before you settle into the evening.