Indian restaurants in Manchester

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

There are plenty of excellent Indian restaurants in Manchester – the curry mile has its reputation for a good reason – but look further afield and you’ll find everything from little backstreet haunts, to celebrity-packed multi-million-pound mega-restaurants.

Here you’ll find restaurants offering entirely meat-free dining, and in one notable case, completely vegan, as well as an Indian take on fine dining, plus plenty of other forward-thinking takes on this endlessly versatile and flavour-packed style of cuisine. While the Curry Mile can certainly be good for certain occasions, for the truly special experiences it’s worth looking a little further away from the norm.

The one thing all of the below restaurants have in common is excellent food.

Here are the city’s best Indian restaurants, whether you’re looking for homely authentic cuisine, or something with a razzmatazz wow factor.

Don’t forget the poppadoms!

Here are our picks

  • 1. Scene Manchester

    Scene

    Scene Manchester, 4a Left Bank, Manchester, M3 3AN - Visit now

    Whether you want authentic Indian cuisine, or something a little more unusual, Scene has you covered. Every dish has been finessed into the best version of itself, never overpowered by spices, only enhanced. This is Indian food at its best.

  • 2. Zouk

    Zouk, Unit 5 Chester Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 5QS - Visit now

    As you’d expect from a restaurant that’s been packing them in – including luminaries like Drake and, er, Peter Kay – for well over a decade, Zouk rarely disappoints. All the dishes reach a remarkably high quality and the restaurant itself has a pleasing modern feel. Make a trip here a top priority.

  • 3. Bundobust Manchester

    Bundobust Manchester
    Ian Jones

    Bundobust Manchester, 61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AG - Visit now

    Whether you’re looking for a quick snack, or a group meal out, Bundobust can’t be beat. In fact, they offer every item on the menu for a mere £80, enough to feed six to eight people. Do your friends a favour, drag them out for this, weather be damned.

  • 4. Asha’s

    Ian Jones

    Asha’s, 47 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 3NG - Visit now

    Asha’s boast an elaborate and inventive menu. If your tastes lean toward fine dining, rather than curry and chips, you won’t find much better in Manchester.

  • 5. Mowgli Street Food Restaurant

    Photo of Mowgli's interior

    Mowgli Street Food Restaurant, 69 Bold Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 4EZ - Visit now

    Mowgli brings authentic – and delicious – Indian street food to Manchester’s Corn Exchange.

  • 6. Mughli Restaurant & Charcoal Pit

    Mughli Restaurant & Charcoal Pit, 30 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M14 5TQ - Visit now

    Indian street food restaurant Mughli is one of the curry mile’s most highly-regarded restaurants – and for good reason. Alongside the tried and tested classics, you’ll find a menu offering all manner of dishes from the Indian subcontinent and beyond.

  • 7. Amma’s Canteen

    Amma's Canteen
    Charlie Spargo

    Amma’s Canteen, 285 Barlow Moor Rd, Manchester, M21 7GH - Visit now

    Amma’s Canteen has all the heart and tradition you’d expect from a top neighbourhood restaurant rapidly becoming an established name on Manchester’s restaurant scene. Take a short trip out of the city to the edge of the Southern Cemetery to get an authentic Keralan experience you won’t forget in a hurry.

  • 8. Dishoom Manchester

    Dishoom Manchester

    Dishoom Manchester, 32 Bridge St, Manchester , M3 3BT - Visit now

    Bridge Street is becoming quite the pocket in Manchester these days and there’s another compelling reason to get down there. With impeccable attention to detail and a charismatic, flavoursome menu, Dishoom should be right up there on your to-do list.