Dubai’s 14 Best Indian Restaurants, Ranked By What Matters

Dubai doesn't do ordinary Indian food—it does next-level, boundary-breaking, nostalgia-fueled brilliance. Whether it's two-star MICHELIN royalty, a gilded biryani, or a train-themed cocktail bar, there's no shortage of power moves in the city's Indian dining scene.

But let's get real. Some places outshine the rest. Here's how the best of the best rank across innovation, legacy, and sheer dining dominance.

Image Courtesy: Avatara

1. Trèsind Studio

Best for: Once-in-a-lifetime degustation experiences
Why it ranks first: Two MICHELIN stars, ranked #11 on World's 50 Best Restaurants
Price: AED 1095 per person
Chef Himanshu Saini isn't making food—he's curating art, philosophy, and nostalgia on a plate. No butter chicken here, just precise, unexpected, and meticulously plated storytelling.
Verdict: The most exclusive Indian dining experience in Dubai. If you can get a reservation, take it.

2. Avatara

Best for: Vegetarians who demand luxury
Why it ranks second: Game-changing, plant-based fine dining
Forget the dry paneer tikkas of the world. Avatara proves that vegetables deserve the spotlight. Chef Rahul Rana makes carrots feel like caviar and eggplant taste like indulgence.
Verdict: Even hardcore meat lovers leave impressed.

3. Kashkan

Best for: Hardcore regional authenticity
Why it ranks third: No gimmicks, just pure, rooted Indian food
Ranveer Brar isn't here for fusion. Kashkan is Naga pork curry, Rajasthani laal maas, and Bengali mustard prawns. It's India, from top to bottom, plated without compromise
Verdict: If you're done with the usual Mughlai fare, this is where you go.

4. Moti Mahal

Best for: Straight-up, no-nonsense North Indian classics
Why it ranks fourth: They invented butter chicken. Enough said.
If modern Indian cuisine is the flashy Instagram model, Moti Mahal is the old-money legacy player. Their gravy game is untouched. Their tandoors are an institution.
Verdict: You haven't had butter chicken until you've had it here.

5. Masti

Best for: Fusion flavors, gin tastings, and an unpredictable menu
Why it ranks fifth: Miso butter chicken. Truffle ghee lamb chops. Paneer tacos.
Masti takes Indian flavors, smashes the rulebook, and rebuilds them with international influences.
Verdict: For those who love surprises on a plate.

6. Bombay Borough

Best for: Indian food with a luxury twist
Why it ranks sixth: A place where pani puri comes with truffle and chaat meets burrata
This is what Indian fine dining looks like in the heart of DIFC—polished, elevated, and ready for business lunches that impress.
Verdict: For when you need to close a deal over tandoori lobster.

7. Rasam by Avinash Mohan

Best for: A biryani that's a literal flex
Why it ranks seventh: They have a 23-karat gold-coated biryani
Avinash Mohan didn't just reimagine biryani—he put literal gold on it. It's over-the-top, yes, but it's also outrageously good.
Verdict: For when you want biryani but need it covered in luxury.

8. Spice Klub

Best for: Playful, Instagram-friendly Indian small plates
Why it ranks eighth: Pani puri with molecular gastronomy. Dahi vada in tart form.
Spice Klub takes comfort food, deconstructs it, and rebuilds it with an eye for shock value. The AED 111 tasting menu is also a steal.
Verdict: For the experimental food lover.

9. Rohini

Best for: Business lunches that don't bore
Why it ranks ninth: A killer AED 85 business lunch in an upscale setting
Rohini is Little Miss India's bolder, edgier sister, offering solid Indian staples with modern touches.
Verdict: Your wallet and stomach will both thank you.

10. Indya by Vineet

Best for: When you want Indian street food with a Michelin touch
Why it ranks tenth: The only Indian restaurant in Dubai with a dedicated gin room
Indya is charming, eclectic, and innovative. You're not just getting sev puri—you're getting charcoal sev puri.
Verdict: For gin lovers and street food enthusiasts.

11. Roobaru

Best for: Unpretentious, home-style Indian food
Why it ranks eleventh: The samosas are stuffed with Chips Oman.
Roobaru is like walking into a cozy Indian home—except the food is clever, thoughtful, and packed with nostalgia.
Verdict: For a comforting meal that surprises you in the best way.

12. Khadak

Best for: Hardcore Indian food lovers
Why it ranks twelfth: It feels like a night out in India's famous food district
Think kebabs straight from a charcoal grill, hand-pulled naan, and korma so rich it should be illegal.
Verdict: If you miss the diverse flavor palette of Indian food, this is the fix.

13. Daftar

Best for: Business lunches with character
Why it ranks thirteenth: It's where tandoori meets the boardroom
Daftar takes office nostalgia and turns it into a full-fledged dining experience.
Verdict: For those who work hard and eat harder.

14. Revelry

Best for: Indian-infused cocktails that pack a punch
Why it ranks fourteenth: It's a train journey, but make it a bar.
This is Indian drinking culture redefined—with cocktails that taste like nostalgia and a menu inspired by train journeys across India.

Final Rankings

- Best Fine Dining: Trèsind Studio
- Best Vegetarian: Avatara
- Best Regional Cuisine: Kashkan
- Best Legacy Indian: Moti Mahal
- Best Cocktails: Masti
- Best Business Lunch: Rohini
- Best Biryani Flex: Rasam's Golden Biryani
- Most Instagrammable: Spice Klub
- Best Comfort Food: Roobaru
- Best Classic Indian Food: Khadak
- Best Indian Cocktail Bar: Revelry
Dubai's Indian food scene is a powerhouse. Whatever your craving, this list guarantees you'll never settle for average again.