It’s not as difficult as you think to find authentic, spicy South Asian food in Tampa Bay! Here are my picks for the best Indian Restaurants in St. Petersburg and Tampa! Our go-to spice level is medium; this is definitely open to interpretation by each individual restaurant but a good start if your spice tolerance is decent!
Gorkhali Kitchen
Gorkhali Kitchen, which features Nepalese/Himalayan cuisine still with dishes that are clasically Punjabi, recently earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction. The vibes are unassuming with just a few pieces of Nepalese art on the walls, but it’s inviting nonetheless. This spot is by far the most authentic with regards to flavor. We tried both the paneer butter masala and paneer tikka masala, both was equally tasty. The baseline spice level was perfect for the curries. Gorkhali uniquely offers momos, or Napalese dumplings. Pan-fried momos came with an extremely spicy dipping dal and we were thankful we didn’t go for the chili flavored momos (although I’m sure they are amazing). We tried rajma (kidney bean curry) on a whim and agreed that homemade rajma is the best. Overall, the best flavor profile and quality and worth the extra drive up to the New Tampa area!
Taste of Punjab
We finally tried Taste of Punjab in Largo and it did not disappoint. It features a menu with classic Indian fares in a simple setting. The gobi manchurian was crispy and bursting with flavor, definitely the best we have tried of all. The paneer makhani had rich flavor and texture with a good amount of paneer. The saag paneer featured more fresh and less blended spinach with a taste that was decent. Definitely one of the top picks in the area!
Gateway to India
Gateway to India is a long-standing St. Pete spot with a modest exterior but nice, colorful vibe on the inside. The authentic flavors are there and the dishes are quite tasty, paneer butter masal and navratan korma shown here. Certain dishes have come out with a little too much sweetness at times such as the kadahi paneer. It is definitely the most accessible Indian restaurant in the St. Petersburg area and I’m thankful it exists for that last-minute Indian food craving!
Curry Leaves
Nestled within a gas station, Curry Leaves has been remodeled over the years to a quite nice, busy setting. The gobi manchurian is good but not as good as Taste of Punjab. Palak in the palak paneer seemed like blended canned spinach, but the kadai paneer was pretty delicious and the naan is the most soft of all! Overall it’s an accessible location in Tampa with good options. (Ignore my crust these photos were taken just after my pediatrics boards).
Bay Leaves
Bay Leaves is the sister restaurant of Curry Leaves further out towards Carrollwood. The samosa chaat was definitely the highlight, as it’s difficult to find good, classic Indian appetizers at times. The other dishes including paneer makhani and navratan korma were great and worth trying.
Twisted Indian
I had to include Twisted Indian, which started as a food truck, followed by a stall at the since-gone Baum Avenue market, and now has blossomed into its own brick and mortar. The paneer naanwich will hit the spot. I wish they had more variety on the menu but I’m happy for the South Asian influence in the middle of the bustling downtown St. Pete!
This post was all about the best Indian restaurants in St. Petersburg and Tampa! Others I have yet to try are Ruchi’s Kitchen and Ice Spice. Check out my posts on the best Thai in St. Pete and my Ride or Die St. Pete restaurants!
Pingback: 5 Delicious Vegetarian-Friendly Asian Fusion Restaurants in St. Petersburg and Tampa - My SoCal’ed Floridian Life