You can find this absolute gem on Fossgate, and honestly, if you can’t spot it straight away, don’t stress. Your nose will do the work for you.

Kalpakavadi brings something a little different to the table when it comes to Indian food. The chef’s from Kerala, so while we all know and love our kormas and butter chickens, this spot leans into the veggie and seafood side of things — and does it so well. That said, they’ve still got the classics covered, and they smash them too.

Since seafood’s their thing, we had to start with the Malabar fried prawns. Genuinely might be the most flavour-packed prawns we’ve ever had – still crispy (no soggy business here), and absolutely bursting with spice. We also tried the achari paneer tikka, and it was so smoky and rich, the cheese just melted in the mouth. A proper treat.

The vibe? Super laid-back. Soft Indian instrumentals playing in the background, the kind of place you could come for a chill dinner, a cute celebration, or just a midweek catch-up that turns into a full feast. Whatever the occasion, it just works.

Have to try: Lamb chops masala
Perfect for: Special Occasions, casual dinner out
Approx price for 2: £40- £80 (depending on how many starters you get)

Bengal Brasserie is a firm favourite with the locals. Whether you’re in the mood for a proper sit-down dinner or just grabbing your usual takeaway, this spot is the one. The menu is massive, covering all the classic Indian dishes you know and love, but also introducing you to dishes from different parts of India you might not have tried before. Basically, ideal if you’re looking to branch out but still want that comfort food feeling.

One thing we really appreciated was how well the menu was put together. So many helpful little sections and subcategories, so you know what’s popular, what suits which flavours, and what you might actually enjoy. So essentially, no  having to decode a 12-page novel before you even get to order. That said, we did order a lot, and not a single thing missed. Not one. So even if we’d picked blind, we reckon we still would’ve been happy.

Now let’s talk sides – because what’s an Indian meal without about five of them? The Bombay aloo was the standout. Yes, it’s a classic, but something about it when it’s freshly made, still a bit crispy on the edges, piping hot to the point it slightly burns your mouth… you know the one. And you still go in for another bite.

Have to try: Chicken biriyani and Bombay aloo
Perfect for: Chill dinner out
Approx price for 2: £40- £80

Coconut Lagoon on Clarence Street isn’t your typical Indian — and that’s exactly why we love it. These guys specialise in South Indian cuisine, and it’s a whole different flavour profile from the usual. We actually made a pact before coming here: no ordering anything we’ve had before (high risk, high reward). Safe to say, no regrets.

Now, if you’ve never heard of a masala dosa, let us put you on. It’s this super thin, crispy crepe made from rice and lentils, rolled up and stuffed with the most comforting spiced potato filling. We dipped ours into a coconut and tomato chutney – think curry-vibe but lighter — and honestly, it was a full flavour explosion. Tangy, spicy, creamy… all at once.

That said, if you’re not feeling adventurous, don’t panic. They’ve still got all your classic favourites, and trust – they know exactly what they’re doing with them too.

Have to try: Masala dosa and chicken 65 (crispy spiced chicken)
Perfect for: Family dinner out
Approx price for 2:  £40- £80

Indian Lounge on Swinegate is one of those spots that just gets comfort food. It’s giving warm, familiar flavours, but with that extra level of finesse. The vibe inside hits that sweet spot — white tablecloths and dim lighting for a special occasion, but still relaxed enough for a midweek dinner with the fam where no one’s dressing up. Zero judgement.

We kicked things off with a few small plates – the salmon tikka (no surprises there, solid) and the aloo chaat, which honestly deserves a whole paragraph of its own. If you haven’t had aloo chaat before, you’re seriously missing out. You’ve got crispy puris, soft potatoes, cooling yogurt, sweet tamarind, and a hit of spice. It’s basically every flavour combo you could ever want, all in one bite. Since trying it here, it’s officially on our go-to Indian order list.

For mains, we played it kind of safe – butter chicken (classic for a reason) and king prawn saag, which was basically prawns swimming in the creamiest, garlickiest spinach sauce ever.

And don’t even think about skipping the cheese and chilli naan. It’s like a grilled cheese but just gourmet and 1000x better. You’ll thank us later.

Have to try: Aloo chaat
Perfect for: Dinner out with friends or family
Approx price for 2: £40- £80

We’re spicing things up with this one (pun fully intended). Mumbai Lounge is definitely one of the fancier spots on this list. It’s right on Fossgate and trust us — you won’t miss it. We’re not talking gowns and tuxes here, but maybe leave the joggers at home. It’s giving ‘date night’, not ‘just popped to Tesco’.

Now, even though it’s called Mumbai Lounge, we clocked quite a few Afghani and Bengali dishes on the menu. Not mad at it though — different flavours = different wins. What we loved was the chef’s recommendation section, especially since it was one of those nights where we just wanted to be told what to get. Our waiter suggested the Balti Butter Chicken. And yes, it counts as trying something new — it’s not basic butter chicken, it’s balti butter chicken. Slightly spicier, definitely richer, and honestly might be better than the original.

You can ask for everything at your own spice level (big win), and the presentation? Top tier. Even the starters looked like a whole occasion. They’ve also got daily specials that sounded unreal – next time we’re coming back just for those.

Have to try: Balti butter chicken and tandoori lamb chops
Perfect for: Special Occasions
Approx price for 2: £40- £80

29 States is a little further out from the centre of York, which probably explains why it’s not buzzing with tourists or people who’ve just moved here — and honestly, that’s a tragedy. Because this place? Hidden gem energy.

Obviously we had to start with poppadoms — it should be illegal not to. Sometimes we genuinely think we could sit and eat bowls of them and call it dinner (not saying we’ve done that… but also not denying it). For actual appetisers, we went for the Punjabi samosa and the paneer rolls — both came with this spicy, creamy mint chutney that cooled down the piping hot, spicy filling perfectly.

Now let’s talk mains. We ordered the thali — which is basically a mini feast on one plate, and all for just under £17. Absolute steal. You get two curries, two starters, rice, naan, a side, dessert and a mango lassi. Wild. The lassi was creamy, sweet, and everything you want to sip between bites. We 100% didn’t need the extra starters beforehand (learn from us), but if you’re feeling brave, go all in — no regrets. The dessert changes daily, but we got the gulab jamun when we went and it was sticky, soft, and so so sweet. Just how we like it.

Have to try: Punjabi samosa
Perfect for: Dinner out with friends or family
Approx price for 2: £40- £80

Bombay Spice is a proper local legend. One of those places that always delivers (literally and figuratively). Spicy, authentic, full-of-flavour food that hits every single time. We’ll be honest with you – on a hungover day, Bombay Spice is absolutely on speed dial.

But on our more wholesome, functioning human days, when we actually go in and sit down, the vibe is lovely. Super chilled, Bollywood classics playing softly in the background, and the staff are genuinely so kind and helpful…maybe a little too familiar with us at this point.

Our go-to order flips between curries with naans or a biryani, depending on the mood (and how reckless we’re feeling with carbs). On more chaotic days? All of the above. If you’re going down the curry route, we’re begging you — get the garlic rice. The flavour is rich but mellow, no scary raw garlic moments here, just pure deliciousness.

They also have a surprisingly stacked wine list – reds, whites, sparkling, champagne, spirits, mocktails – the lot. 

Have to try: Garlic rice
Perfect for: Dinner out with friends or family
Approx price for 2: £40- £80

Atithi is one of those cosy little gems tucked away on Fishergate that just feels like a warm hug. The vibe is super relaxed and cute — perfect for a chilled dinner that still feels a bit special. And let’s just say, the food seriously delivers.

To start things off, we went for the vegetable and spinach pakora. Golden and crispy on the outside, and the filling inside? Piping hot and packed with flavour. Not just a throwaway starter – genuinely impressive.

For mains, we ordered the Malabari fish curry, and wow. It had this creamy coconut base that was so rich and comforting without being heavy. Usually, we’d go straight for naan (because… habit), but our lovely waiter suggested the tandoor roti instead and honestly, it was spot on. The roti added just the right amount of bite without competing with the creaminess of the curry. Love a staff rec that actually works.

We also got the saffron rice on the side, which was way more flavourful than expected. So good that we ended up taking some home to spice up our next-day lunch!!

Have to try: Malabri fish curry
Perfect for:Dinner out with friends or family
Approx price for 2: £40- £80

Garden of India is another popular one, and for good reason. They know what they’re doing.
The menu is absolutely massive, so prepare yourself. It’s split into all your favourite curries — you’ve got your dansaks, kormas, rogan josh, bhunas, literally everything. We won’t lie, it’s the kind of place where you don’t really try something new, and just get what you know and love. And that’s fine by us.

So, in that spirit, we went for the chicken tikka masala with a side of mushroom rice and garlic naan. No one can argue with that order — solid, comforting, and always hits.

They also do set meals for 2 or 4 people, veggie and meat options. We thought that was a cool shout, especially if you’re not in the mood to make decisions. All your faves, picked out for you. Easy.

Have to try: Tandoori butter chicken
Perfect for:Dinner out with friends or family
Approx price for 2: £40- £80

This little gem on Bishopthorpe Road is seriously shaking things up. The menu’s full of things you don’t usually see on a standard Indian menu… just wait.

We went for one of their specials called the shatkora. You can get it with chicken, fish, or veg  (we went chicken)  and it’s this citrusy, spicy gravy that gives off major hot and sour vibes in the best way possible. Paired it with garlic chilli saag and vegetable pilau rice, and honestly, not one bite disappointed. The flavours just came together perfectly.

Now here’s the twist. They’ve got a full-on European section on the menu. Yup — fried chicken, scampi, chips, even omelettes. Perfect for the fussy kids… or those adults who are basically still kids when it comes to food. We all know one.

Have to try: Garlic chilli saag
Perfect for:Dinner out with friends or family
Approx price for 2: £40- £80