5 of the best Indian restaurants in Edinburgh's New Town

Some of Edinburgh’s finest Indian restaurants are in the elegant New Town.

Published 20th Mar 2017
Updated 18 th Sep 2023

Within a stone’s throw of the city centre, these restaurants offer an authentic taste of India.

Dishoom

(3 St Andrew Square, EH2 2BD, 0131 202, 6406)

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Dishoom has its origins in Bombay cafe culture. The restaurant is an homage to Sir Patrick Geddes, a Scottish botanist and sociologist who spent time in Bombay.

As well as offering a fantastic all day menu, there are great cooked breakfasts for you to try.

Two fried eggs on chilli cheese toast is a classic, as is the three-egg omelette of chopped tomato, coriander and green chilli. The bacon naan roll is a masterwork, made with Ramsay of Carluke’s smoked streaky bacon.

The Dishoom chicken tikka is made to a family recipe, using sweet vinegar rather than yogurt, then flavoured with ginger juice, turmeric, garlic and green chilli.

For a lesser known dish, you can try the keema pau: spiced minced lamb and peas on a toasted, buttered, home-made pau bun.

Shezan

25 Union Place, EH1 3NQ, 0131 557 5098)

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This family-run restaurant is one of Edinburgh’s best-loved eateries, and has won a number of awards, including a Scottish Curry Award in 2014 and in 2015.

The menu comprises over 100 homemade Punjabi dishes, across both the pre-theatre and a la carte menus.

The chicken bhuna is delicious, with a curry made from caramelized onion, fresh ginger, garlic, puréed tomato and fresh coriander.

Another classic dish is the tarka daal: lentils cooked with garlic and ginger in butter.

Cosmo

(Omni Centre, Greenside Place, EH1 3AA , 0131 557 0808)

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Picture: Flickr

There is plenty of options at Cosmo. Picture: Karen Bryan\Flickr

Cosmo is a world cuisine restaurant, offering dishes from India, South East Asia, Italy and more. There are more than 150 dishes to choose from, each cooked in small amounts to make sure they are always fresh.

The Indian selection includes such classics as chicken korma and chicken tikka, as well as onion bahji - finely chopped and spiced fried onions.

One of the best dishes is the king prawn madras: succulent tiger prawns in a tomato-based, medium spiced curry.

Maybe not one for the purists, but for those looking for some decent Indian dishes for great value and a chance to satisfy fussy partners or family members with the variety of different cuisines on offer it's definitely worth checking out.

Khushi’s

(10 Antigua St, EH1 3NH, 0131 558 1947)

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Khushi's was Edinburgh's first ever Indian restaurant when it opened its doors in 1947.

The founder, Khushi Mohammed had an ambition to create the finest, most authentic curries in the country.

Members of the family are still a big part of the business, ensuring that Khushi's vision for the restaurant is maintained.

The mixed vegetable tak-a-tak is sublime, made with seasonal marinated vegetables, griddled with onion, tomato and chaat masala.

However, meat-eaters may prefer the classic lamb jalfrezi, in which the lamb is served with ginger, tomato and peppers in a tangy sauce.

Zest

(15 North St Andrew Street, EH2 1HJ, 0131 556 5028)

Picture: Trip Advisor Traveller

Picture: Trip Advisor Traveller

Zest is a very popular restaurant with a loyal base of customers. It offers traditional Indian and Bangladeshi curries, made with the freshest herbs and the most aromatic spices.

These are usually stir-fried to ensure the best flavour.

To start, try the the sabzi pakora, made with gram flour, onion and curd spiced with ghee. To follow, the Zest special is an excellent choice: lamb shank marinated with spices, onion, tomato and garnished with coriander.

For dessert, there is a choice of mango or pistachio kulfi, the silky smooth Indian ice cream.

Maddy lives in Edinburgh and has written for the Sunday Herald and the Ed Fringe Review. She is passionate about authentic, sustainably sourced food, and is always keen to discover exciting new flavours.
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