The best Indian restaurants In Perth

It’s no secret that Northbridge’s Sauma is highly regarded amongst spice seekers – never failing to get a mention as one of the best Indian restaurants in Perth. The contemporary eatery serves up Indian street food with an elevated flair, alongside inventive cocktails with a kick, craft beers and Western Australian-focused wines. The inventive tapas-style menu is designed for sharing – think Waygu beef samosas, twice cooked lamb ribs and paneer tikka – before you mop up your mains with some tandoor-cooked naan. Our tip? Dine streetside with a pani puri shot in hand and immerse yourself in the Northbridge buzz.

Address: 200 William St, Northbridge

Price: Mid-range

In Tamil, gama means aroma – and you’ll definitely catch the scent of spices wafting through the air the moment you step into GamaGama. This no-frills spot dishes up favourites like paneer pakoras, prawn pepper fry, onion bhajis as well as lamb seekh kebabs and smoky tandoori chicken straight from the tandoor oven. Don’t miss the house specials: a fragrant South Indian chicken curry simmered in coconut milk and freshly ground spices or the goat kizhi parotta that's cooked in a banana leaf. You’ll also find hearty biryanis, Indo-Chinese fusion dishes and generous thalis. To finish, sip on a cooling rose lassi or warm up with spiced ginger cardamom tea. 

Address: 26B Chapman Rd, St James

Price: Budget

Namaste India is a North Perth institution, so you'd best head there on an empty stomach. The contemporary dining room is bright and inviting, but the pretty plates are the main event – the eggplant curry is even served in an eggplant-shaped bowl – how’s that for a bit of fun? Vegan options are clearly labelled on a menu that's descriptive and hefty. The Goan fish curry is tangy, spicy and darn delish, the lamb shank curry is hearty and the savoury Kashmiri naan stuffed with dried fruits is an adventure for the tastebuds. Leave room for a serve of gulab jamuns.

Address: 18 Angove St, North Perth

Price: Mid-range

This long-standing Subiaco haunt has well and truly stood the test of time and holds a special place in the heart of many a Subi-dweller. With a fresh lick of paint and a few touch-ups here and there, Chutney Mary’s Indian Restaurant has transformed into a bit of a destination, if elevated, authentic Indian food is on your dining bingo card. The tandoori fish tikka melts in the mouth, the chicken palak cooked with spinach, ginger and curry leaves is a creamy sensation, while the bhindi do pyaza of okra is sublime. Top it all off with a Bollywood martini with hints of mango, and you’ve got yourself a winner-winner tikka dinner.

Address: 67 Rokeby Rd, Subiaco

Price: Mid-range

Time and time again, Beaufort Street reels in the crowds for its diverse hospitality scene, and Chakra Restaurant on the Inglewood side of the street is no exception. The family-run corner restaurant dishes out both familiar and not-so-familiar fare from across the entirety of India. Chakra puts in the work when it comes to plating aesthetic looking food while sticking to authentic flavours. While you could tuck into the chicken biryani, beef vindaloo and lamb rogan josh, why not try something different like the slow-cooked lamb shanks or goat Mughlai. Or opt for a bite from the thoughtful vegan menu with the likes of soy 'chicken' drumsticks and Kerala tofu curry. The inventive drinks menu includes cocktails with Indian flavours. Apple chai martini, anyone?

Address: 839D Beaufort St, Inglewood

Price: Mid-range

You’ve probably whizzed past Balti Indian Restaurant countless times along your St George’s Terrace travels in the heart of the city. And while the facade appears relatively nonchalant, it’s not until you step inside the eating house that it becomes memorable. Balti’s dramatic neon-lit nterior pairs well with its dramatically good curries, hailing from both the north and south of India. The super spicy chicken Chettinad is a South Indian crowd-favourite, and if your sweet tooth is nagging you for a lil’ something, Balti’s gulab jamun is irresistible – a traditional dessert of deep-fried, dense dough that’s doused in both rosewater and sugar syrup. One simply isn’t enough!

Address: Shop 3/2 St Georges Tce, Perth

Price: Mid-range

Bursting with cheeky personality, Curry Munchers in Leederville serves up Indian and Pakistani food worthy of a night out. The small, vibrant venue is a social hotspot, powered by creative cocktails and hearty classics: think butter chicken, paneer kadahi and truffle-oil and mushroom naan. It's unpretentious, bold and generous, perfect for sharing alongside good friends and big flavours.

Address: 745 Newcastle St, Leederville

Price: Mid-range 

Coming through hot and spicy over in the timelessly trendy Fremantle is Lions and Tigers. Matching the locale’s good vibrations, Lions and Tigers plate up modern Indian cuisine in an up-market dining room adorned with funky artwork and intriguing decor. The seasonally-changing menu is also a treat for the eyeballs, bursting with ultra-fresh hues of green, red, and yellow, aside a drinks list that ignites an inquisitive flame irresistible to the taste buds. Chow down on dishes from the vibrant sharing menu, then wash it all down with Garage Project’s pickle beer – it’s a winning combo.

Address: 8 Bannister St, Fremantle

Price: High-end

Tucked in the heart of Craigie Plaza, Bollywood Spices brings more than a decade of family-driven flavours to Perth’s northern suburbs. Chef-owner Roshan honed his craft in five-star Indian kitchens, creating a menu that spans North Indian classics, like fiery curries, biryanis and tandoori specials served in generous portions. Bold spices meet homestyle execution, creating a relaxed and welcoming dining experience that feels as familiar as it does vibrant. With BYO available, it’s the perfect neighbourhood spot in Craigie for a comforting Indian feast.

Address: Craigie Plaza, Shop 9/15 Perilya Rd, Craigie

Price: Mid-range 

East Vic Park has transformed into an absolute mixed bag of beans – a thriving dining destination where cuisines collide and hungry stomachs rumble for things a little nicey and a little spicy, too. No-frills by nature, Spicy Affair Indian Restaurant can only be described with a likeness to the inside of a mandarin – that being excessively orange – yet remains a mainstay among locals and those from afar. As for Spicy Affair’s menu, expect humble cooking with tradition at the forefront of its ethos – take the chicken changezi (aromatic tomato curry), for example – a dish with 14th-century beginnings. Equally inviting staples include goat madras, chicken jhalfrezi, and an oh-so-moreish dal makhani. Pack a tipple to pair and you’re in for an indubitably finger-licking feast – a spicy affair, some may say.

Address: 909A Albany Hwy, East Victoria Park

Price: Mid-range

Perth’s first Indian gastro pub, Jagga Daku, delivers a culinary curveball with bold Indian street-food meets tapas-style gastropub glamour. Expect inventive bites like butter chicken samosas and dahi puri alongside comforting curries. Then wash it all down with one of more than 50 rotating craft beers or a glass from the extensive wine list. Live music, striking artwork and even a Royal Enfield bike suspended overhead lend the venue a funky edge that feels memorable, late into the night.

Address: 123 Oxford St, Leederville

Price: Mid-range

As you may have already guessed, Dosa Xpress specialise in dosa – a savoury crepe of sorts hailing from South India, awaiting your hunger pains in South Perth. As well as dosa-lovers, this one goes out to the vegetarians and vegans of Perth – Dosa Xpress is a plant-based haven with gluten-free and organic on their mind. The eatery’s moral code is to create “good food that just happens to be meat-free”, and that, they have achieved. A whopping 26 dosa are up for grabs, ranging from traditional to cross-cultural, namely the cashew masala dosa and the American chop suey (stir-fried meat and veggie dish) dosa, respectively. And if dinner for you isn’t truly complete without a sweet treat, Dosa Xpress is at your service with those ice cream rolls that went viral a few years back – you’ll know them when you see them.

Address: 53 Labouchere Rd, South Perth

Price: Budget