Indian Food Abroad: Where to Find the Best Indian Restaurants Around the World

The Indian Palate Abroad: A Real Traveller's Challenge

Indian travellers are among the world's most food-conscious tourists — dietary habits, religious restrictions, and the sheer deliciousness of Indian cuisine make eating abroad one of the biggest concerns for most group tours. Whether your group is strictly vegetarian, Jain, or simply craving dal and roti after three days of pasta and sandwiches, this guide will help you find authentic Indian food in every major group tour destination around the world.

London and UK: Brick Lane and Beyond

London has one of the world's finest Indian restaurant scenes — the UK's 1.8 million Indian-origin population has built a culinary tradition spanning everything from Michelin-starred contemporary Indian (Dishoom, Gymkhana, Benares) to beloved street-level Brick Lane curry houses. Southall in West London is the largest Indian market area outside South Asia, with Punjabi dhabas, South Indian eateries, and every type of Indian sweet imaginable. Groups visiting London should dedicate at least one Southall evening.

Dubai and the UAE: Indian Food Capital of the Middle East

Dubai has the world's highest concentration of Indian restaurants outside India — the 3 million+ Indian diaspora in the UAE has created every style of Indian cuisine available. Karama, Bur Dubai, and Al Rigga are known for their incredible value Indian restaurants. The best cheap Indian food in Dubai rivals anything available at equivalent prices in India. Groups can eat brilliantly for AED 20–40 per person at excellent Indian establishments throughout Dubai.

Singapore: Indian Heritage and Hawker Centre Delights

Little India in Singapore (Serangoon Road) is an extraordinary pocket of South Indian culture — banana leaf meals, Indian sweet shops, spice merchants, and temples. The hawker centres across Singapore serve Indian Muslim cuisine (roti prata, mee goreng, biryani) at remarkable quality and value. Muthu's Curry, Komala Vilas, and Ananda Bhavan are beloved Indian institutions. Singapore's Indian food scene is predominantly South Indian but North Indian restaurants are plentiful in the main shopping districts.

USA: Devon Avenue, Jackson Heights and Beyond

The USA's 4 million Indian-Americans have created world-class Indian restaurant clusters in every major city. Jackson Heights in Queens, New York, is the Indian food capital of the East Coast. Devon Avenue in Chicago is a full mile of Indian restaurants, grocery stores, and sweet shops. Fremont and Sunnyvale in the Bay Area serve the South Indian tech community. Edison and Iselin in New Jersey are known as 'Little India' for the density of Gujarati and South Indian establishments.

Japan, China, and East Asia: Finding Indian Food in the Far East

Japan's Indian restaurant scene has grown dramatically with rising Indian tourist arrivals. Tokyo's Shinjuku and Shibuya districts have multiple good Indian restaurants. Namaste India in Shinjuku, Samrat in Hiroo, and various Nepali-run curry houses serve acceptable Indian food. In Hong Kong, Indian restaurants cluster around Tsim Sha Tsui. Seoul's Itaewon has several Indian restaurants. China's Indian food scene is limited to major cities — bring ready-to-eat Indian meals for smaller Chinese cities.

Pro Tips for Finding Indian Food Abroad

Use Google Maps with the search term 'Indian restaurant' or 'vegetarian restaurant' in any foreign city — filter by rating (4+ stars) and check the menu photos. Zomato has limited international coverage but works well in the UAE, UK, and Singapore. HappyCow is the best app for finding vegetarian and vegan restaurants globally. TravelBuddy's group tour operators pre-research and book Indian meal options at every destination and can arrange home-cooked Indian meals through local Indian community contacts.