Sydney has one of the world's great Indian food scenes. Not 'great for a Western city' — genuinely great. The concentration of restaurants in Harris Park alone would make a credible case, but layer in the Surry Hills dining rooms, the North Shore gems, and the family-run spots scattered across western Sydney, and you have something worth taking seriously.
Whether you just landed or have been here for years, this guide covers the spots the Indian community in Sydney actually talks about, eats at, and sends their newly arrived friends to.
Start Here: Harris Park (Sydney's Little India)
Harris Park in Parramatta — specifically the strip along Wigram Street and Station Street — is the undisputed centre of Indian food in Sydney. Restaurants sit shoulder to shoulder. Sweet shops open before 7am. When IPL is on, every screen in every restaurant is tuned to the same match. This is where the community eats.
- Dosa Hut — Officially Australia's most-reviewed restaurant on Google, and the bragging rights are earned. 50+ types of dosa, fiery biryanis, Indo-Chinese dishes. Most mains under $20. The original Harris Park location is the one locals recommend.
- Chatkazz — Mumbai street food done properly: pani puri, pav bhaji, chole bhature, bhel puri. Queues every weekend. Cash only. Completely worth it.
- Hyderabad House — The dum biryani is the best in Sydney by most accounts. They cook in limited quantities, so get there early. The Harris Park location often sells out by 1pm on weekends.
CBD and Inner Sydney
The CBD and inner suburbs have strong options beyond Harris Park, particularly if you are entertaining visitors or celebrating.
- Abhi's (North Strathfield) — Running since 1990, Abhi's makes a strong case for being Sydney's best Indian restaurant. Chef Kumar Mahadevan's masala dosa and Goan fish curry are consistently cited by both the Indian community and food critics. The Australian and Indian cricket teams have been spotted here.
- Manjit's (Darling Harbour) — Australia's first Indian restaurant, opened in Balmain in 1984. The Darling Harbour location is stunning for a special occasion. Their goat dhaba curry and tandoori prawns are signature dishes.
- Foreign Return (Surry Hills) — Forgotten regional Indian dishes in a striking Wes Anderson-ish dining room. Not traditional, but genuinely interesting cooking. Excellent gin and tonic list.
- Chatkazz's newer location (Surry Hills) — The expansion of the Harris Park original, bringing Mumbai street food to the inner city crowd.
For South Indian Specifically
- Dhakshin (Crows Nest) — Specialises in the cuisines of South India beyond the usual dosa-and-idli scope: Chettinad, Tanjore, Kongunadu, Udupi. The chicken dum biryani cooked in traditional slow-cooker style is excellent.
- Malabar (Darlinghurst and Crows Nest) — Running since the mid-1990s, Mohammed Sali's restaurants are the benchmark for Keralan and South Indian cooking in Sydney. The Goan fish curry is a must.
- INDU (CBD) — Open dosa kitchen you can watch from your seat. Southern Indian cooking with modern technique. Particularly good for a business lunch.
For a Special Night Out
- Urban Tadka (Northern Beaches) — The only Indian restaurant in Australia to receive a Sydney Morning Herald Chef Hat ten years in a row. Modern riff on authentic cuisine. Book well ahead.
- Nilgiri's (Cremorne) — Chef Ajoy Joshi, who trained at the Taj group in Hyderabad, serves refined vegetarian Indian that surprises most people who assume Indian vegetarian means limited options.
A Note on Regional Variety
The Sydney Indian food scene in 2026 has moved well beyond butter chicken and garlic naan. You can find authentic Goan fish curry, Maharashtrian misal, Keralan sadya on banana leaves, Hyderabadi haleem (especially around Eid), and Tamil Nadu chettinad chicken if you know where to look. If you have been eating the same three dishes for five years — Sydney in 2026 is your invitation to explore.
