Restaurants, Indian within 5 miles of Edinburgh

Something of a Glasgow stalwart, the Edinburgh branch of Mother India’s Cafe opened in 2008 and has replicated the popularity of its western sibling. Serving up Indian food in tapas-sized portions ensures the restaurant maintains a buzzing social feel…

Debates over its actual ‘Originality’ still rage, with the (unconnected) Mosque Kitchen over the road claiming copyright, but the Original Mosque Kitchen remains a popular spot, still resolutely lo-fi, ladling curries from school dinner drums on to…

With acres of street-level window, stylish split-level interior and panoply of coloured ceiling lights, the latest incarnation of Edinburgh stalwart Khushi’s is far from your run-of-the-mill Indian restaurant. The menu has a modern feel to it and a…

Quite who is the Mosque Kitchen, who is the Original Mosque Kitchen and who is the original Original Mosque Kitchen is very much up for debate – just ask one of the staff here. However, regardless of who is more authentic, the two venues share a similar…

Expectations need to be reset before visiting Punjab’n de Rasoi as it’s a tad different from your typical Indian restaurant. Established in 2010 as a means to empower Sikh women, this community-run café at the bottom of Leith Walk serves traditional…

When you head to Tanjore, and it’s heartily recommended you do, there are two reasons to bring an appetite. First, this is where to sample the finest Southern Indian cuisine in Edinburgh. Second, you’ll be tempted to order everything on the enticing…

Variously known as The Indian Lounge, Tipu's Indian Lounge, or Tippoo Sahib (its previous moniker that lingers on menus and framed certificates on the walls), this stalwart of Rose Street has been serving up traditional curries and Punjabi specialities…

Having navigated the vertiginous steps, the rich red walls, exposed brickwork, warm wooden floors and even warmer greeting of the Spice Pavilion await. Cristina Khan greets each guest by name, and does everything in her power to ensure that you will…

There’s a reason why Kebab Mahal has been a part of Edinburgh’s dining scene since 1979, and that is its adherence to the maxim ‘keep it simple’. Its cafe feel and hard-worn chairs and tables give the room an air of the late-night takeaway, an…

Takeaway review With an extensive if slightly predictable roster of Indian and Bangladeshi meals, the fact that the list of specialities is almost longer than the selection of traditional curries doesn’t exactly guide customers towards what they do…

Having firmly positioned itself on the West of Scotland dining scene, with half-a-dozen outlets (as well as a number of associated stablemates, including the Shak brand), it should come as no surprise that Glasgow kari kings Ashoka have eventually moved…

Since opening its doors in 2004, this family-run Bangladeshi restaurant’s fame has slowly spread from its Leith base to the further reaches of the city, and it is now consistently touted among the capital’s top takeaways. Offering an eye-watering…

Ideally placed to capitalise on the pre-theatre crowd spilling over the road from the Festival Theatre, Suruchi has carved a niche for itself that has quite cheerily survived the recent change of ownership. The light and airy upstairs room is brightly…

Based in Canonmills and something of a local institution, Eastern Spices is secure in its good name with local curry-heads. This security can result in a little complacency on occasion, but when it’s good, Spices is very, very good. A starter of chana…

Ajay Bhartdwaj, owner and head chef of Kalpna, has spent over 30 years correcting the particularly British sensibility that Indian cuisine ought be a meaty affair. Indian cookery in its most traditional form is almost entirely meat-free; something which…

Pataka has doubled in size over the past year. The Causewayside Indian restaurant has acquired a white room in keeping with their contemporary Charles Rennie Mackintosh aesthetic. The extra space opens the restaurant up for larger parties (outlawed in…

Rivage may seem an understated presence from the outside, but there’s nothing low-key about the restaurant’s menu or the kitchen’s execution of it. Husband and wife team Ryad Meeajane and Catherine Thomson look after the kitchen and front of house…

Since 1984, Bangalore has been serving its blend of established curry classics and modern subcontinental cooking to lovers of authentic Indian food in Edinburgh. Situated in Tollcross, this calm, unstuffy restaurant specialises in halal-friendly south…