The Seattle area’s South Asian food scene is quickly starting to represent a wide variety of regions and countrieswith some restaurants offering innovative American and Pacific Northwest takes on IndianPakistaniand Sri Lankan cuisine. Good South Indian dosas have been available in the area for some yearsbut newcomers are increasing options with three-foot-long crepes studded with chopped onions in Bothell and and affordablefast-food-potato-stuffed dosas in Bellevue. MeanwhileRupee Bar in Ballard has been serving Sri Lankan drinking snacks like prawns with chili paste and bottarga (a type of fish roe) since 2020. Here are some favorite South Asian and Indian restaurants from around the Seattle area. As usualthis list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically.
The Best South Asian Restaurants in the Seattle Area
Classics curriesNepalase momosand inventive items like dosas with white truffle oil
In September 2025 we took another look at this map and didn’t change much but added Sangamam in Fremont.
Know of a spot that should be on our radar? Send us a tip.
The Best South Asian Restaurants in the Seattle Area
Classics curriesNepalase momosand inventive items like dosas with white truffle oil
The Seattle area’s South Asian food scene is quickly starting to represent a wide variety of regions and countrieswith some restaurants offering innovative American and Pacific Northwest takes on IndianPakistaniand Sri Lankan cuisine. Good South Indian dosas have been available in the area for some yearsbut newcomers are increasing options with three-foot-long crepes studded with chopped onions in Bothell and and affordablefast-food-potato-stuffed dosas in Bellevue. MeanwhileRupee Bar in Ballard has been serving Sri Lankan drinking snacks like prawns with chili paste and bottarga (a type of fish roe) since 2020. Here are some favorite South Asian and Indian restaurants from around the Seattle area. As usualthis list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically.
In September 2025 we took another look at this map and didn’t change much but added Sangamam in Fremont.
Know of a spot that should be on our radar? Send us a tip.
Samburna Indian Restaurant
Samburna serves some of the Seattle area’s best South Indian cusine. The owners of the restaurant grew up in Tamil Naduon the Southern tip of the Indian Subcontinentwhere dosa is a stapleand the restaurant serves several excellent versionsincluding one that’s over three feet in length; all dosas are served with sambar and a variety of chutneys. A goat curry cooked in a blend of masala spices and coconut milk is also a must-tryand madras coffee with a milk-based dessert makes a nice end to the meal. Order Samburna to goor enjoy a meal with quick service in the dining room.
Saffron Grill
Saffron Grill is one of the best-loved Indian restaurants in the city. Serving up a fusion of Indian and Mediterranean cuisinethe Northgate spot exudes a family friendly vibe in both its service and its menu. Classic dishes such as the mango chutney chicken curry fare wellbut the real winners are the delectable okra masala and the wide assortment of dessertssuch as the sinfully sweet gulab jamun.
Kathakali Indian Cuisine
This South Indian spot in Kirkland draws critical raves for its Kerala-influenced cuisineincluding dishes such as a jackfruit and potato stew and tilapia in a tamarind sauce. The menu that sources localorganic ingredients when possibleand a kitchen that mills its own spices. The dosasin particularare part of the reason Kathakali is so well-likedfeaturing classics like masala dosa and more inventive creations such as the potato and white truffle-oil dosa.
Indian- Nepali Kitchen
This no-frills spot off Aurora Ave. simply does what it knows how to do best: cook up authentic Nepalese and Indian dishes that aren’t as easy to find outside the respective countries. Tuck into one of the fragrant biryanisor momos simmered in a rich butter masala sauce. For a taste of the Himalayan regionsample some traditional Nepalese specialties like aloo rayoko saag — potatoes cooked with spices and mustard greens — or thukpaa Tibetan noodle soup.
Kricket Club
Kricket Club is chef Preeti Agarwal’s follow-up to her Fremont Indian restaurant Meesha. It’s a similar concept: tapas- small plates and entrees served family . Located in the old Salare space in RavennaKricket Club looks to New Delhi and Mumbai for inspiration for its street foodfrom the jackfruit bao to the tandoori chicken kathi rolls to the potato croquette vada pao. Bigger dinner portions include a goat biryani and a tandoori halibut in a coconut lime sauce. An order from the bread bar is a must. Cocktails are tweaked with South Asian ingredients including a mezcal drink with pomegranateharissa and rose. The single malts and scotch are a good deal here toowith 2-ounce pours that cost $2 to $3 less than what you would pay at bars on Capitol Hill and in Ballard.
Rupee Bar
This Ballard bar and kitchen serves an assortment of Sri Lankan and South Indian snacks. The menu rotates seasonally but has features items like like tomato and corn chaatKerala fried chickenand prawn coconut curr. The cocktail menu includes South Asian ingredients like toasted coriander seedsturmericand tamarind date chutney. The bar won a James Beard award for best design for restaurants with under 75 seats in 2020.
Taste of India
Before the recent influx of excellent regional Indian restaurantsthe University District’s Taste of India was considered by many to be the best Indian food in the city. There are a ton of brag-worthy items on the menu that specializes in classicwell-known Indian tandoori and curry dishesincluding a creamysatisfying butter chickenbut perhaps none more so than the naan (try the paneer or spinach options).
Sangamam
Fremont’s Sangamam specializes in flavors from the South Indian regions of BengaluruChettinadAndhraand Malabarinas well as Indo-Chinese recipes. The menu features dosasbiryaniscurriesand more. Start with snacks like idlis and kothu parottabefore moving on to mains. The delightfully spicycrispy Malabar fish fry and rich Kathirikai Kulambu (tamarind eggplant curry) are favorites. Stop by for lunch during the week to try the South Indian thalia great way to sample multiple dishes.
Lassi and Spice
This Indian-influenced cafe with locations in South Lake Union and Fremont serves up variations on the classic lassia tangy-sweet Indian yogurt drink. Flavors range from blueberry cardamom to pistachio and the café serves up a number of snacks and Indian sweets to pair it with. Those lassis and an assortment of small dishes and sweet treats such as ladoo are available for takeout and delivery.
Spice Waala
Uttam Mukherjee and Aakanksha Sinha’s Indian Street food businesswhich started as a farmer’s market stallnow has locations in Capitol HillBallardand Columbia City. Spice Walla serves kathi rolls made with roti wrapped around piles of paneerpotatospicy chickenand juicy lamb kebabswhose rich flavors pair perfectly with a tangy mango lassi. They also serve street food such as chaat and rotating Indian-inspired flavors of soft serve ice cream like coconut cardamom.
Annapurna Cafe
Duck into this colorfulunderground space off Broadway specializing in cuisine from the Himalayan regions of IndiaNepaland Tibet. An order of dumplings is a mustwith options including spinach- or chicken-stuffed momos served with an array of dipping sauces. Other favorites on the menu include Dhal Batmango and vegetable curryand a Goan favorite of spicy lamb vindaloo. Enjoy your meal in-house with lassi or a saffron-infused cocktail — or order for takeaway.
Nirmal's
Pioneer Square’s Indian food destination restaurant serves soupsbiryaniand curries from a variety of regionsand happily caters to pescatarians and vegetarians with items like herby paneer and spinach fritters and Dungeness crab cooked in a rich tamarind coconut curry. Owners Oliver and Gita Bangera have always made sure the takeout service is as robust as the dine-in experience — although seeing the gregarious Oliver in person usually adds a spark to the meal.
Maurya Indian Grocery and Cafe
This cozy café and grocery store in Issaquah specializes in biryaniscurriesand a variety of South Indian specialsincluding fried idlis and sambhar. The spicy Mysore masala dosa is an ongoing favorite. After eatingperuse the market for South Asian vegetablesfruitssnacks and pantry items.
