You’ll encounter the playful gastropub riffs at Badmaash, the refined spicing and warm service at The Spice Table, and the comforting homestyle cooking at Mayura—not to mention regional specialists like Tulsi Indian Eatery in the Valley and Anarkali in Mid-City. Alongside these sit the vibrant, rice-and-meat extravaganza of Biriyani Kabob House, the intimate neighborhood magic of Electric Karma, and the dosa-driven devotion at Biriyani Kabob House’s sister lanes. From fast-casual thali lunches to elaborate dining-room experiences, these spots showcase why L.A.’s Indian scene continues to evolve—and why Angelenos keep coming back, plate after plate.

1. Badmaash

Where: 108 W 2nd St #104, Downtown LA 
Vibe: Indian gastropub, artsy and irreverent 
What to order: Chicken tikka poutine, chili-cheese naan, fried chicken tikka masala

When Nakul and Arjun Mahendro opened Badmaash in 2013, they set out to upend expectations—think poutine smothered in tikka gravy and naan stuffed with chili cheese, all served in a loft-style dining room adorned with local art. The inventive mash-ups nod to the brothers’ Toronto roots while delivering enough nostalgia (hello, tender chicken tikka) to keep purists happy. Their cocktail list ramps up the fun, too: a mango-chili margarita or house-made masala old-fashioned pairs perfectly with a plate of their signature chicken tikka poutine—crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds, and saucy chicken that you’ll want to order again, straight up.

Service is laid-back but attentive; expect helpful recommendations from servers who know that you can’t go wrong by saying “yes” to seconds. And while the original Downtown location draws the lunch crowd with its pared-down weekday menu, weekend evenings at Badmaash feel like a party—loud laughter, tables groaning under nachos-style platters, and a soundtrack that somehow bridges Bollywood and indie rock.

2. The Spice Table

Where: 101 E 1st St, Los Angeles (Little Tokyo) 
Vibe: Warm, industrial-chic; open kitchen with communal tables 
What to order: Goan-style prawns curry, lamb dum biryani, house-made naan

Since its debut in 2011, The Spice Table has earned praise for its bold, beautifully balanced curries and insistence on house-made everything—from rotis to pickles. Owner-chefs Bryant and Maria Nguyen take inspiration from regional Indian fare but present it with a modern sensibility—think coconut-tamarind glaze on skirt steak or a subtly spiced coconut-cashew cake for dessert. Critics laud the restaurant’s friendly, knowledgeable staff and the way they guide diners through the menu’s spice spectrum, ensuring that each dish arrives at just the right temperature and seasoning.

On a typical night, the dining room hums with conversation as servers ferry clay pots of curry to communal tables lined with butcher-block wood and flickering tea lights. Whether you’re sipping a craft cocktail infused with curry leaf or digging into the house-special lamb dum biryani—aromatic rice mingled with fall-off-the-bone meat—you’ll feel both comforted and curious about what to try next.

3. Electric Karma

Where: 8671 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood 
Vibe: Cozy West LA spot with vintage Bollywood posters, neighborhood feel 
What to order: Goat curry, garlic naan, saffron rice pilaf

Tucked on a stretch of Sunset Boulevard that’s more known for steak frites than samosas, Electric Karma feels like stumbling onto a friend’s living-room dinner party. The menu may be concise, but every plate—whether it’s the slow-braised goat curry or the silky paneer makhani—carries a home-cooked authenticity that keeps diners coming back week after week. The garlic naan, blistered just so in the tandoor, is practically a meal in itself.

Owner-chef Vikas Saxena oversees a team that treats each order as if it’s for a family gathering: dishes arrive piping hot, served on real plates (no disposables here), and flawlessly timed so you can alternate bites of creamy korma with refreshing cucumber-mint raita. Pair your meal with a cool mango lassi or a house-made masala chai, and you’ve got yourself a low-key, high-satisfaction dinner in one of L.A.’s most unassuming corner.

4. Mayura

Where: 11860 W Washington Blvd, Culver City 
Vibe: Modern, bright dining room; family-friendly 
What to order: Kerala-style fish curry, masala dosa, Malabar paratha

Mayura brings the flavors of Kerala—where the owners hail from—to Culver City with genuine passion and breadth. Beyond the expected tikka masala or saag paneer, Mayura specializes in Southern Indian delicacies you don’t see everywhere: tangy banana leaf-wrapped fish curry, spicy beef ularthiyathu, and dosas stuffed with coconut-chili chutney. The masala dosa here is legendary: paper-thin, crackling at the edges, and filled with a fragrant potato-onion mash that merits a dedicated trip across town.

Culver City’s bright midday sun filters into the dining room, where families linger over thali platters and kids delight in the playful shapes of idli served with dollops of sambhar. Prices are more than reasonable for the quality and variety offered, making it a top pick for both casual lunches and weekend feasts.

5. Anarkali Indian Restaurant

Where: 5411 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles 
Vibe: Unpretentious, cafeteria-style, classic urban Indian eatery 
What to order: Chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, aloo gobi

For a no-frills, reliably tasty Indian meal, Anarkali has been doing its thing on Wilshire Boulevard for years—drawing a crowd of office workers at lunch and late-night diners craving hearty curries. You walk in, grab a tray, choose from a line of warming dishes behind glass, and seat yourself at one of the simple tables. It’s exactly as utilitarian as it sounds, and that’s the point

Their chicken tikka masala is creamy without being cloying, and the lamb vindaloo carries enough heat to make a believer out of a mild-food fanatic. Aloo gobi and palak paneer round out the line-up for vegetarians, all served with house-made naan that arrives soft and pillowy. For under $15 a plate, you’ve got yourself a serious meal—no reservations, no fuss, just honest Indian cooking that tastes like home.

6. Biriyani Kabob House

Where: 3525 W 3rd St, Los Angeles (Koreatown) 
Vibe: Bright, casual, and deeply fragrant with spice stalls on every table 
What to order: Lamb biryani, chicken tikka kebabs, chana masala

In a pocket of K-Town sometimes dubbed “Little Bangladesh,” Biriyani Kabob House stands out for its single-minded dedication to basmati rice and marinated meat. Their lamb biryani—layers of saffron-tinged rice and tender meat—has an almost cult following for its perfect balance of spice and fat. Kebabs arrive still sizzling on metal skewers, and a side of yogurt-mint chutney resets your palate for the next bite.

The décor is simple—white walls, chrome chairs, laminated menus—but every table has at least three tiny condiment jars: mango pickle, green chutney, and a chile-garlic oil that adds an extra kick when you need it. Lunch crowds filter in off the street for the under-$20 lunch combo (biryani plus kebab plus drink), while dinner sees groups ordering family-style, filling the air with conversation and the scent of cardamom and cloves.

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7. Tulsi Indian Eatery

Where: Multiple locations (Downtown, Northridge, Westwood, Riverside) 
Vibe: Fast-casual, bright, modern; mix-and-match bowls and thalis 
What to order: Gujarati thali, loaded makhani fries, dosa bowl

Tulsi Indian Eatery has redefined quick-serve Indian food in L.A., offering build-your-own bowls of curry and rice alongside regional thalis that change daily. Want dosas stuffed with curried potatoes but served as a burrito-style wrap? Tulsi has you covered. Craving fries drizzled in creamy makhani sauce? That’s on the menu, too.

Bright interiors, communal tables, and self-serve water stations give it a college-town feel, yet the food remains serious. Gujarati dishes—dals, pickles, seasonal vegetables—sit next to South Indian specialties, making it easy to taste a cross-section of India’s culinary map in one meal. Prices hover around $12–$15 for a generous bowl or plate, and you’ll often see office crowds mixing with families and students on any given afternoon.

From quick-serve thalis to lavish spice-driven feasts, these seven restaurants capture L.A.’s vibrant Indian food scene: a mix of tradition, innovation, and the kind of warmth that turns a single visit into a regular habit. Whether you’re chasing the city’s best biryani, craving a proper dosa, or just want to see what happens when poutine meets tikka masala, Los Angeles has the table set.