The 9 best Indian restaurants in Charlotte

Charlotte’s Indian restaurants used to cluster on the east side and around the university, and the good ones still do, but the last few years brought polished rooms to South End, Elizabeth and Uptown and a modern Indian restaurant serious enough to book for an anniversary. This list covers the range, from a $12 thali to a tasting worthy dinner. Nine rather than ten. Hours are current as of this writing.

1. Zamindar’s Clubhouse

The modern Indian fine dining room and lounge in South End from owner David and chef Vamshi, where oysters, mango lobster and nalli ghosht mandi share the menu with a lemon chicken and a mushroom dish that steals the table. Polished room, real cocktails, owners on the floor and prices at the top of the category. The Indian restaurant for a celebration.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 5 to 10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5 to 11 p.m.; Sunday 5 to 10 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 155 New Bern St, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why it made the list

• The most ambitious Indian kitchen in the city.
• A dinner worth dressing for.
• Cocktails and desserts to match.
• Reserve.

Directory listing: Zamindar’s Clubhouse

2. Nalan Indian Cuisine

The Park Towne Village restaurant, with a second in Ballantyne, serving North and South Indian cooking in a warm room with a Charlotte skyline mural and hospitality that extends to mango lassis for the takeout line. Kadai paneer and dal makhani, Ambur biryani and dosas, an Afghani chicken. Above neighborhood prices, and calibrated spice unless you ask.

Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 10 p.m. (until 11 p.m. Friday); Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Address: 1600 E. Woodlawn Rd, Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28209

Why it made the list

• North and South on one menu.
• The biryani.
• Warm, personal service.
• Two locations.

Directory listing: Nalan Indian Cuisine

3. Curry Gate

The North Indian and Nepali restaurant with a sit down room on South Boulevard and a takeout leaning second on West 24th Street: momo dumplings, gobi manchurian, tikka masala, goat biryani and a spice scale from one to ten the kitchen honors. Generous portions, reasonable prices, deep vegan options and servers who convert the curry skeptics.

Hours: South Boulevard: daily noon to 9 p.m.; West 24th Street: Tuesday to Sunday noon to 9 p.m., closed Monday

Address: 5516 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217

Why it made the list

• Momos.
• Choose your own heat.
• Value and volume.
• Two locations.

Directory listing: Curry Gate

4. Botiwalla by Chai Pani

The Indian street food stall from Asheville’s James Beard winning Chai Pani group inside Optimist Hall: grilled kebabs, lamb burgers, vada pav, gobi 65, a butter chicken thali and turmeric lemonade from a bright, loud corner with its own seating. Counter service, open daily, and the answer for a group that cannot agree.

Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 1115 N. Brevard St, Unit 203, Charlotte, NC 28206

Why it made the list

• A James Beard pedigree at food hall prices.
• Vada pav and gobi 65.
• Optimist Hall’s best stall.
• Quick and casual.

Directory listing: Botiwalla by Chai Pani

5. 12 Masala

The east Charlotte strip center restaurant on East W.T. Harris Boulevard with a perfect public rating, a special biryani that comes with a spice warning, butter chicken and an Indo-Chinese side of chow mein and manchurian. Portions for two, the lowest prices on this list and a family that guides first timers. Open daily from noon.

Hours: Daily noon to 9 p.m.

Address: 8829 E. W.T. Harris Blvd, Suite 107, Charlotte, NC 28227

Why it made the list

• The special biryani.
• Indo-Chinese done right.
• A perfect rating.
• Cheap and generous.

Directory listing: 12 Masala

6. Tajhouse

The upscale Indian restaurant and bar on Elizabeth Avenue with a striking room, a cocktail list and a menu from honey chili lotus stem to smoked makhani butter chicken, goat laal maas and a Chicken Chettinad regulars rank first. The date night Indian room, with late weekend hours and a naan close to perfect.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to midnight; closed Monday

Address: 1535 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204

Why it made the list

• The room.
• Chicken Chettinad.
• Cocktails.
• Open until midnight on weekends.

Directory listing: Tajhouse

7. Exotica Indian Kitchen & Bar

The modern Indian restaurant on South College Street in Uptown, sleek banquettes, a full bar and a menu of tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, paneer and a garlic naan worth the trip, open seven days for lunch and dinner and able to seat an office group of twelve. Servers like Sudeep make it feel personal.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.

Address: 500 S. College St, Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28202

Why it made the list

• Uptown, seven days.
• Lamb rogan josh.
• Groups welcome.
• Polished and consistent.

Directory listing: Exotica Indian Kitchen & Bar

8. Raahi Indian Bistro

The South End bistro in the Design Center on West Worthington Avenue, a beautifully decorated room with a lightly modern take: honey cauliflower, butter chicken, a chef’s lamb, dal makhani, saag and dosas, professional service and a mango lassi with a cherry on top. Parking is the only hurdle.

Hours: Tuesday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9:30 p.m. (until 10:30 p.m. Friday); Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 100 W. Worthington Ave, Suite 104, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why it made the list

• Honey cauliflower.
• A pretty room in South End.
• Dosas and dal.
• Closed Monday.

Directory listing: Raahi Indian Bistro

9. Passage To India Indian Cuisine

The University City institution near UNC Charlotte with nearly 3,000 reviews, a halal kitchen, deep vegan options and a hole in the wall’s priorities: garlic naan, butter chicken, curry chicken and shrimp biryani at the lowest prices in the city, with counter staff who explain everything. Open daily.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8 p.m.

Address: 9510 University City Blvd, Suite 101, Charlotte, NC 28213

Why it made the list

• The university’s Indian restaurant.
• Halal and vegan friendly.
• The best prices on the list.
• Consistent for years.

Directory listing: Passage To India Indian Cuisine

Also worth knowing

The east side along Central Avenue and the Pineville area hold a dozen more South Asian grocers, sweet shops and lunch counters that deserve their own guide. If your Indian restaurant belongs here, tell us.