Looking to satisfy your appetite for Indian cuisine?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Indian restaurants around Cleveland, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture when cravings strike.
1. Indies
Topping the list is Indies, a quick-service eatery at the 5th Street Arcades food court. Located at 530 Euclid Ave., it's the highest rated Indian restaurant in Cleveland, boasting 4.5 stars out of 63 reviews on Yelp.
Open for more than a decade, the eatery has become popular with South Asian immigrants who miss the taste of home, Cleveland.com reports. Look for several affordable vegetarian and vegan options along with Indian mainstays like tikka masala, curry dishes and fresh naan.
2. Tandul
Next up is Tremont's Tandul, situated at 2505 Professor Ave. The restaurant, which is in a space that formerly housed Turkish restaurants, offers the largest selection of goat-based dishes in the region, according to Cleveland Scene. With four stars out of 143 reviews on Yelp, the bar and Indian restaurant has proved to be a local favorite.
On the menu, vegetarian offerings include samosas, paneer tikka and chickpeas cooked in an onion tomato gravy. For carnivorous diners, there's a wide selection of curry, biryani and masala dishes.
3. Bombay Chaat
Head downtown to Bombay Chaat, located at 2044 Euclid Ave. near Cleveland State University, for Indian-style street food. Yelpers give the popular restaurant four stars out of 88 reviews.
Bombay Chaat says its menu is refined regularly and features items from across India and food "as rich as the Indian civilization." Options include both hot and spicy fare along with Indo-Chinese selections like stir-fried hakka noodles and gobi Manchurian (fried cauliflower).
4. Himalayan Restaurant
Over on the city's west side, Himalayan Restaurant is another go-to, serving both Indian, Himalayan and Nepalese cuisines. Head over to 13124 Lorain Ave. to see why the restaurant that opened late last year has earned four stars out of 28 Yelp reviews.
With a growing population of residents from Nepal in the Cleveland area, owner Ramesh Gurung tells Cleveland Scene that he's seen a steady rise in both immigrant and non-immigrant customers.
On the menu, expect to find Indian fare alongside Nepali specialties like momos (dumplings), Himalayan-style biryani and fire-roasted meats. A lunch buffet is offered between 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
5. Desi101
Finally, there's fast-casual spot Desi101, which has earned five stars out of 10 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Indian and halal spot at 2013 Ontario St. across the street from the Jack Cleveland Casino.
The lunch menu caters to nearby office workers, with three combo meals available depending on the size of your appetite. For dinner, look for a wide selection of vegetarian, biryani and tandoori dishes as well as chicken and goat curries, mutton sukha (mutton cooked with Khandeshi garam masala) and paneer butter masala (Indian cheese in a thick, tangy gravy). A buffet is available on weekends.
