Indian food has taken the towns and cities in the US by a storm, including the lovely New England town of Cambridge. Cambridge in Massachusetts is famously home to an amazing posse of Indian restaurants that are a favourite with locals and out-of-towners both. There are tons of places specializing in tandoori-fired and curry-fueled Indian dishes around Cambridge. Dishing out both yummy North Indian and South Indan fare, these restaurants have even made it to the list of the best Indian food in Massachusetts. Here are the 10 best Indian restaurants in Cambridge, where the food is not only fresh but also piquant, flavourful, and delectable to the hilt.
1. India Pavilion
A Central Square foodie landmark for more than three decades, India Pavillion has been serving out delicious North Indian delights and has been doing so with aplomb. The chef’s devotion to the craft is evident in dishes like chicken korma, lamb vindaloo, or just about anything on India Pavillion’s delicious daily lunch buffet, which offers more than 15 items. Some absolute crowd favourites include lamb saag and paneer pakora, as well as a host of non-traditional but wonderful entrees.
India Pavilion
Address: 17 Central Square, Cambridge, MA 02139
Website: India Pavilion
Opening hours: 11:30am - 11pm (daily)
2. Punjabi Dhaba
The small Inman Square Indian restaurant of Punjabi Dhaba might be easy to miss, but its food is something you should definitely NOT miss! With traditional Indian food cart-style trays heaped with some delicious items like stuffed parathas, assorted kinds of chaat items, and lip-smacking lamb vindaloo, it’s easy to understand why the unfussy Punjabi Dhaba is so busy all the time. Dig into some wonderful North Indian dishes as Bollywood music plays lightly in the background.
Punjabi Dhaba
Address: 225 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Website: Punjabi Dhaba
Opening hours: 12pm - 11:30pm (daily)
3. The Maharaja
In the heart of Harvard Square in Cambridge sits the excellent Indian restaurant The Maharaja. This sparkling Indian restaurant sprung right back up after a 2015 fire, reinvigorated and reinvented and dishing out amazing vegetarian specialities and tandoori fare. Ornate Indian decor makes dining here a pleasure, and a particular crowd-pleasing aspect is the second-story view of Harvard Square. Patrons continue to throng the lunch buffet, excellent dishes like dal makhani, baingan bharta, chicken biryani, and buttery naan, as well as the full bar with fun drinks such as rum-spiked mango lassi.
The Maharaja
Address: 57 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Website: The Maharaja
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 9:45pm; Fri: 11:30am - 10:45pm; Sat: 12pm - 10:45pm; Sun: 12pm - 9:45pm
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4. Passage To India
The unfussy Passage To India is North Cambridge’s oldest Indian restaurant. The restaurant does a bit differently and doesn’t serve buffets, but rather thali combos which are out of the world. A warm, bright decor sets the tone for a delightful meal, which must include food items like house specialities bhindi masala, ginger potatoes, and goat Madras, as well as the extremely crunchy and snackable pakoras, chicken vindaloo, and chicken tikka masala.
Passage To India
Address: 1900 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
Website: Passage To India
Opening hours: 11:30am - 10:30pm (daily)
5. Nirvana The Taste of India
Nirvana brings an array of region-hopping Indian far to your plate. The sleek and chic dining room in Cambridge is known for its subcontinent-inspired cocktails, yoghurt-based lassis, and a huge lunch buffet. Nirvana features an extensive selection of regional Indian dishes, including chaat, soup, pakoras, samosas, dahi bhalle, pav bhaji, and dosa. Its tandoori dishes are particularly popular, including accompaniments like chutney, rice, and papadum.
Nirvana The Taste of India
Address: 1680 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
Website: Nirvana The Taste of India
Opening hours: 11am - 10:30pm (daily)
6. Shanti Taste of India
With multiple locations in Roslindale, Dorchester, and Cambridge, Shanti is one of the most popular Indian restaurants in Massachusetts. Serving out classic Indian cuisine with an extensive menu, there’s no dish that Shanti goes wrong with. In fact, choosing what to eat from the sprawling menu could be difficult - what with speciality dishes such as jalfrezi, korma, bhuna, biryani, and even the tandoor preparations and chaat corner with wonderfully piquant and spicy items. In fact, if you need more spice in your food, the staff is more than happy to accommodate you.
Shanti
Address: 7 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge, MA 02142
Website: Shanti
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm (closed on Sun)
7. Chutney's Cambridge
Chutney’s Cambridge blends the concept of fast food and the lovely flavour of Indian cuisine. It serves up amazing Indian food in a western-style sans giving up the authenticity of the lip-smacking cuisine. In fact, the restaurant is often known as the “chipotle” of Indian food due to the interesting way in which it is served - think panini, bowls, and wraps. Try the paratha wrap, which is a burrito-like Indian-masala stuffed burrito, the rice bowl with tons of options for chutneys, toppings, and protein, or a panini-like sandwich with the choicest of fillings.
Chutney's Cambridge
Address: 36 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Website: Chutney’s Cambridge
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
8. Tanjore
Serving cuisine from each corner of India is Tanjore, offering diners what is truly a taste of India’s cuisine. Some of Tanjore’s best North Indian offerings include the aloo matar, tandoori chicken, keema, okra, dal, paneer tikka masala, and the evergreen, crunchy samosas. What’s more, it also devotes an entire menu section to delicious South Indian dishes, including the likes of chicken Chettinad and Madras curry. For dessert, don’t forget to try out kheer and mango pudding.
Tanjore
Address: 18 Eliot St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Website: Tanjore
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 3pm, 5pm - 10:30pm; Fri: 11:30am - 3pm, 5pm - 11pm; Sat: 12pm - 4pm, 5pm - 11pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm, 5pm - 10:30pm
9. Suvaai
If you have a hankering for delicious Sri Lankan fare in Cambridge, head to the charming, purple-hued Suvaai which offers a gamut of traditional and vegetarian-friendly Sri Lankan and South Indian dishes. Suvaai which means “tasty” in the Indian language Tamil is adept at serving out dishes that are absolutely authentically Sri Lankan. Must-try dishes at this place include appam, goat roast with Ceylon paratha, puttu curry, avial, and dosa. After the meal, make sure you have some space in your stomachs for some wonderful, hot, and authentic filter coffee.
Suvaai
Address: 2378 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
Website: Suvaai
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 9:30pm; Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 5:30pm - 10pm (closed on Mon)
10. Surya Indian Kitchen N Caterers
Surya Indian Kitchen N Caterers became a much-loved destination for Indian food since it opened. In fact, it has a cult following with locals, mostly due to its wellness section featuring halal-certified meat, gluten-free, and nut-free food. Classic, all-time favourite dishes here include the Hyderabadi-style biryani accompanied by a crock of raita, lentil daal, paneer tikka masala, paneer saag and warm, fresh, buttery naan. Don’t miss eating at this quaint hidden gem in Cambridge.
Surya Indian Kitchen N Caterers
Address: 114 Magazine St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Website: Surya Indian Kitchen N Caterers
Opening hours: 11:15am - 10pm (daily)
Calming food cravings in Cambridge with Indian food
Cambridge has lots of options for Indian food, whether it is North Indian food you’re craving or South Indian delectables. Why don’t you make a food date with your friends or family and head to one of these fantastic Indian restaurants in beautiful Cambridge?
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