The best Indian dishes, region by region
The top 3 according to 34 votes from people: Hyderabadi biryani · Butter chicken (murgh makhani) · Masala dosa. (Updated Oct 2, 2026.)
India's most loved dishes from north, south, east and west, picked from regional food guides (Saveur, Tasting Table and Indian food writers). Street snacks included; sweets have their own list.
Top 20
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1
Hyderabadi biryani
Marinated meat and basmati rice layered and sealed in a pot to cook 'dum' style; Telangana's pride.
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2
Butter chicken (murgh makhani)
Tandoori chicken in a buttery tomato gravy, created at Moti Mahal in Delhi.
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3
Masala dosa
Crisp fermented rice and lentil crêpe with spiced potato, sambar and coconut chutney; from Karnataka.
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4
Chole bhature
Spicy chickpea curry with puffed fried bread, a Punjabi and Delhi favourite.
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5
Pani puri
Crisp hollow puris filled with spiced water, potato and chickpeas; called golgappa in the north.
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6
Dal makhani
Black lentils and kidney beans slow-cooked overnight with butter and cream.
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7
Pav bhaji
Mumbai street dish of mashed spiced vegetables with buttered bread rolls.
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8
Vada pav
Spiced potato fritter in a bun with chutneys, 'Bombay's burger'.
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9
Nihari
Slow-cooked beef or mutton shank stew from Old Delhi and Lucknow, eaten at dawn.
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10
Rogan josh
Kashmiri lamb curry coloured red with Kashmiri chillies.
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11
Palak paneer
Fresh cheese in a smooth spinach sauce, mild and earthy.
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12
Goan fish curry
Fish cooked in coconut, kokum and red chilli, eaten with rice in Goa.
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13
Kerala fish moilee
Mild coconut milk fish stew with turmeric and curry leaves.
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14
Chicken 65
Spicy deep-fried chicken bites born in Chennai's Buhari Hotel.
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15
Rajma chawal
Kidney bean curry with rice, North Indian Sunday comfort food.
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16
Vindaloo
Goan pork curry with vinegar and garlic, of Portuguese origin.
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17
Tandoori chicken
Chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices, roasted in a clay tandoor.
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18
Aloo paratha
Flatbread stuffed with spiced potato, served with butter and pickle for a Punjabi breakfast.
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19
Idli sambar
Steamed rice cakes with lentil and vegetable stew, the South Indian breakfast.
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20
Dhokla
Steamed savoury gram flour cake from Gujarat.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 20… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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21
Macher jhol
Bengali fish curry with potatoes, light and spiced with mustard oil.
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22
Litti chokha
Baked wheat balls stuffed with sattu, with mashed smoked aubergine and potato; from Bihar.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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