The One-Stop Guide to Indian Food

Indian food is very different from western food and can seem a little intimidating from an outside perspective. If you're planning to visit India or just want some more information about Indian food before visiting your local restaurant, then this Indian food guide can help. 

Indian food usually consists of a gravy dish with meat or vegetables that is eaten with rice or bread depending on what you prefer. There are also dry Indian dishes called sabzis which are typically eaten with bread. Although Indian food can be spicy, not all of it is and any dish can be ordered spicy or non-spicy to suit your preferences. 

Indian food

Indian Food Basics: 10 Good to Know Facts

1. India is called the Land of Spices not necessarily because the food is spicy, but because almost every dish contains 10 or more different spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin.

2. Most Indian dishes are eaten with either bread or rice. For many dishes, you can choose which you would prefer. Often dishes with thicker gravy are eaten with bread.

3. Although it is traditional to eat with only the right hand, this is not required and you will see many Indians using both hands to eat on a regular basis. It is also common among the middle and upper classes to use forks and knives to eat.

4. Indian food is heavily influenced by Persian food which can be seen in India's delicious tender kebabs and aromatic lamb curry. Indian food is also influenced by the Portuguese, English, and Greek food.

5. Not all Indian dishes are curries. In fact, there are only 5 types of curries including chicken curry, mutton curry, egg curry, vegetable curry, and fish curry. The flavor of these dishes will vary by region.

6. The most popular Indian gravy dishes among westerners are Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken. If you are looking for a delicious dry rice dish, then try biryani which is meat cooked in rice and aromatic spices.

7. The reason behind some visitors getting an upset stomach in India is not because of unsanitary food preparation but because of the inclusion of more vegetables and spices and far less dairy in most dishes.

8. Foreign food is very popular in India and you will find many restaurants that serve western food particularly Italian, American, and British dishes as well as restaurants that serve other Asian cuisines such as Chinese and Thai.

9. Around 40% of Indians are vegetarian and it is extremely easy to find great-tasting vegetarian food in India and at Indian restaurants abroad.

10. Some popular Indian drinks include chai which is a black tea mixed with milk and sugar and lassi which is a sweet yogurt drink.

You might be interested in:

What India Eats for Breakfast

Holi and Diwali: Festivals of Colors and Lights Comparisons

The Taj Mahal at Night: Full Moon Night Visits, Places for Night Views

Best and Worst Times to Visit Jaipur (updated for 2023)

Top 12 Places to Visit in Punjab

Best 10 Resorts in India for Couples and Families for Luxury Experience

China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.

Seeing Bangkok with ease In Bangkok, our tour guide, Ying, was wonderful. She navigated all the sights with ease, gave us interesting tidbits on Thai culture and history, helped us pick the right food at all the restaurants, and was just a pleasure to be around. We had a great time, and it was so nice to not have to worry about any of the details. More Diane Elkins, Nov 2023

Thailand -insights, no stress and amazing team My husband and my Thailand trip was fantastic, stress-free and educational thanks to the amazing team coordinated by Albee at Asia Highlights. The whole team was incredibly accessible, responsive, sensitive to our needs and lovely to work with. End-to-end, the trip was truly remarkable and the knowledgeable and dynamic tour guides and drivers made it especially memorable! More AndrewsFamily, Oct 2023

Informative & Thorough / Thanks Sharon! Sharon the advisor that helped me was so thorough & informative and explained the details of the tour including questions about visas and what is included vs what is not included in the tour packages. I would recommend them to explain tour packages that would fit the schedule of your pending travels. More Chris, Sep 2023

Easy, fast responses I worked directly with Monica in Asia Highlights. She was incredibly helpful and answered all of my questions quickly. Working with her made the whole process easy and we are so excited for our trip! More Diana B, Sep 2023

Stress free Thailand Alisa has organised our 14 day Thailand holiday for 2024 for my family & I. She has been very accommodating & super quick with all of our requests & we cannot wait for a stress free holiday! Thank you Alisa! More Alana Mitchell, Sep 2023

Family Trip to Thailand-Cambodia All of our guides were very nice and knowledgeable, but we have a special mention to our guide in Cambodia, Chan, he was very kind with us and it was very amusing. He went the extra mile for us. We really enjoyed our holidays! More José Antonio Carrillo de la Pl, Sep 2023

Asia Highlights and Sharon Asia Highlights, specifically Sharon, has been wonderfully helpful as we get ready for a 2024 excursion to Thailand. We are beyond excited, and much of that has to do with the personalized attention that we have experienced with Sharon. She has been extremely responsive, obliging, and focused as she helped us design a tailor made itinerary. All of our questions have been addressed, our needs have been met, and the path has now been set for a very exciting trip.... thanks to Sharon. More Marcy Hoenig, Sep 2023

I was planning a trip to Thailand to… I was planning a trip to Thailand to especially see the Lantern Festival this year for our birthdays!! It’s been on our bucket list, but we were completely lost on how to go about planning for our trip. We’ve never really booked tours before but Alisa was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, flexible and efficient in providing all the information we needed to make our decision on the best tours and tickets to purchase. Thank you so much!! More https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/64d9a5a4657e4b39f768a21e, Aug 2023

I would definitely recommend Asia… All of our guides were wonderful (Mr. Bank - Bangkok and Ms. Kai in Phuket & Khao Sok plus antoher guide who assisted in Koh Samui). Sharon took care of tours, private drivers, flights and hotels within Thailand and our trip went off without a hitch. The hotels were great and the transportation always arrived on time and with a clean, More Guinevere Provance, Aug 2023

Great Experience WOW! I’ve traveled Asia some & I must say Sharon & Asia Highlights made this trip so much more enjoyable and easy More Stephen Hollis, Aug 2023

Alisa has has been great to work with Alisa with Asia Highlights has has been great to work with. Very friendly and responsive. More Ana Rausch, Aug 2023

Using Sharon right now to book our… Using Sharon right now to book our upcoming trip to Thailand. She has booked everything that we asked for. Has answered all of my inquiries, which has been many! Looking forward to having a great girls trip in Thailand More Tracy, Aug 2023

Thailand, Singapore, Bali In Thailand, Tanny and Nori(Suparp), were both incredible! They were both fun, funny, and full of knowledge and made sure we got the full experience. They went the extra mile and always made sure we had cold bottled water and towels to cleanse our hands. In Singapore, Nicole was an absolute gem. She was so kind and knowledgeable and guided us in the right direction to make our day as enjoyable as possible. She helped us choose a top notch local lunch and coffee spot in China Town and taught us so much about the country! In Bali, Emon was an absolute joy. He was very knowledgeable and kind and absolutely made sure we were feeling comfortable and was willing to be flexible with us. He was fun to converse with and made our time traveling between destinations so enjoyable! I cannot recommend Asia Highlights enough! Accommodations, travel arrangements and guided tours were all a breeze. More Cassi Thunker, Jul 2023

Very supportive Very supportive ! I have received eticket for Sky Lattern Festival very fast More Chi?n Nguy?n Ng?c, Jul 2023

My experience in Chang Mai with Asia Highlights I greatly enjoyed my experience with Asia Highlights for a trip I booked to Thailand.All of my interests were catered too. My guide in Chang Mai Gemma was excellent.I truly felt the soul of Thailand culture and Buddhism. More Richard, Jul 2023

A pleasure to plan with Well, this has been a painless and pleasurable process to find such a wonderful company. I had specific dates and places to be and Sharon worked with me diligently to refine the schedule and costs to suit my travel needs and budget. She informed me of a special tour on the dates I am to be in Thailand and I added that to my previous plans. More Chris Williams, Jul 2023

Large multi-generational holiday in Thailand The holiday was wonderful. Our guides, Mr Monchai (Bangkok), and Ms Tipagorn (Tippy) (Chiang Mai) were exceptional. Travelling in a large multigenerational group with many children requires patience and our guides truly understood that. Mr Monchai and Ms Tippy shared their extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. While everyday was busy, having them greet us with patience and a smile truly made this a memorable holiday. The hotels we stayed at were equally wonderful and went above and beyond to celebrate not only my parents 50th anniversary but also celebrate 2 milestone birthdays that occurred. We will cherish this holiday for many years to come. We hope to use Asia Highlights again. More CL, Jul 2023

I never used a travel agent in my life I never used a travel agent in my life, but Sharon for Asia Highlights did a phenomenal job helping planning and coordination a family vacation. The best part of working with Sharon was that she maintained an open line of communication and provided answers to my question well within 12-24 hours. Additionally, Sharon was flexible and customized our vacation to my families needs. Overall great experience. More Antione Barry, Jul 2023

Great company to plan a trip to Southeast Asia! Sharon Haung has been wonderful to work with! Very patient and accommodating. Responds immediately given time change and is prepared, prompt, and professional. More Debi Hinerfeld, Jul 2023

We took a 15 days trip (10 days Vietnam and 5 days Thailand … It was an amazing experience the guides and drivers were there awaiting for us at each airoport for a transfer to the hotels also on time for all the tours all the guides were so lovely , very experienced and spoke very good English , one of the days on tour in Thailand I lost my phone in a temple in Bangkok mr chai went out of his way in a middle of thousands of visitors and managed to find an bring it back to me I found that amazing , also while on a trip I contacted Jason li out tour organizer few time via whatup and he replied and helped on the spot I recommend asiahilights 150% The quality of the service hotels the guides the drivers outstanding From start to finish ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ???? More SIMO el ghobar, Jun 2023

How Spicy is Indian Food?

One of the biggest reasons that people hesitate to try Indian food is that they"ve heard its really spicy. While it"s true that some Indian dishes are very spicy, most range from mild to medium heat.

The spiciness of an Indian dish is based on the number of fresh chilis and the amount of red chili powder that is added by the chef. This means that it is easy to customize the heat level of a dish according to individual preference. So if you don"t like spicy food, make sure you tell the waiter that you want your dishes to be mild.

In India, many restaurants will automatically make dishes less spicy for western guests. So if you love spicy food, make sure to mention that you like a little heat when ordering so as to not get the mild version. 

Great Mild Dishes

Indian cuisine includes plenty of non-spicy dishes that are perfect for travelers who prefer mild food. One of our favorite mild dishes is korma. Korma is a dish with gravy that is made from cashews. This dish is light, creamy, and mild served without fresh or dried chilies. 

Another great mild option is palak paneer. This dish has a creamy spinach sauce that is typically served without any red chili. This is also a vegetarian dish and includes paneer, a type of Indian cheese. 

Palak paneer served with naan bread

Butter chicken is another good option as it includes a lot of cream and yogurt and is usually served mild. This is one of the most popular Indian dishes abroad and is a great one to try if you are new to Indian food. 

If you are looking for a dry dish, look no further than tandoori chicken which is coated in spices, marinated, then cooked in a clay oven for extra flavor. 

Samosas, the famous Indian appetizer, are also pretty mild. These fried pyramids are typically stuffed with potatoes, peas, and other veggies that are lightly seasoned.

Great Spicy Dishes

If you are looking for spicy food, then India has plenty of great options. One of the most famous spicy dishes in the country is pork vindaloo. This gravy dish was created in Goa and is influenced by Portuguese flavors. It includes plenty of red chili powder to get your mouth watering. 

Another famous spicy dish is laal maas which is from Rajasthan and directly translates to "red meat". The gravy in this dish is a bright red and is made with mathania red chilies from Jodhpur. This is a non-vegetarian dish and often includes mutton. 

Lastly, let"s talk about piro aloo, a famous spicy vegetarian dish that originated in Nepal. This dish is extremely popular in India and is a potato gravy dish that packs a punch. 

Take a look at the top 15 Indian dishes to try. 

9-Day India Highlights and Food Tour Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Varanasi

Eating Habits and Dietary Restrictions

Around 40% of Indians are vegetarians for religious reasons. Hindu vegetarianism is a little different from the western version and most Indian vegetarians will not eat eggs, garlic, or onions. Hindu vegetarians, however, are not vegan and do eat dairy products like milk, butter, and yogurt. 

Hinduism also bans the consumption of beef. In India, the killing of cows is taken very seriously. Although beef is served in certain communities it is often difficult to find. Instead, most Indians who are not vegetarians will eat mutton, fish, and chicken. 

Around 20% of India is Muslim which is why pork is not as common in the country. Muslims are not allowed to eat pork and the meat they do consume should be halaal.

Both Hindus and Muslims practice religious fasting during different times of the year. Fasting in India is seen as a way to show commitment to religion and bring luck to the family.

Popular Meat Dishes

Although many Indians are vegetarian, meat dishes are still very popular in the country, especially among young people and men.

Besides butter chicken and chicken tikka masala, one of the most popular meat dishes is rogan josh. This is a spicy lamb curry that is served in northern areas such as Kashmir and Delhi. 

Another great meat dish to try is biryani. Biryani is loved all over India and is a dry rice dish that is made with butter, spice, and meat. This dish is very aromatic and often comes with mutton that is so tender it falls off the bone. 

Chicken biryani is one of the most popular versions of this dish

Chicken 65 is a spicy dish that includes pieces of fried chicken glazed in a delicious sauce. This is a dry dish that gets its name from the 65 different spices that are used to make it. 

Lastly, if you are a meat lover, you can"t miss out on India"s kebabs. There are many different types of kebabs from chicken tikka to lamb kebabs. Kolkata is particularly famous for its kebab rolls that feature delicious chunks of meat with lemon and chilies wrapped in bread. 

Popular Vegetarian Dishes

India is probably the best country in the world to visit for vegetarians due to the large variety and great flavors of the vegetarian dishes that are made here. Most menus at Indian restaurants are separated into "veg" and "non-veg" sections and the veg section often has just as many dishes as the others. 

One of the most commonly served vegetarian dishes eaten by both veg and non-veg people alike is dal. Dal is a stew-like dish that is made using lentils. The lentils are cooked and combined with onion, tomato, and spices such as turmeric and asafoetida.

Chole served with puris

Another great veg option is aloo gobi. This is a potato and cauliflower dish that is dry and often eaten with bread. Aloo gobi is a staple in many North Indian homes.

Chole or chana masala is a gravy dish made with chickpeas. This dish is good for you and for your tastebuds. It"s not too spicy but includes many earthy spices that come together to make an excellent meal. Chole is often eaten with a thin puffed bread called puri. 

14-Day Romantic Honeymoon Trip in India Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur

How to Eat Indian Food for Beginners

Although Indian food can be intimidating at first, it"s actually quite simple once you know a little more about it.

Most Indian food is eaten family-style meaning that multiple main dishes are ordered and everyone at the table shares. If you have two people eating you"ll want to order at least three dishes, not including the bread or rice. 

Your main dishes can be gravy dishes or dry dishes. Each dish will come in a bowl from which everyone will scoop some of each onto their plates. You can choose to eat your food with either rice or bread. Sometimes it"s a good idea to order both.

There are many types of Indian breads but most people like naan which is a flatbread often coated in garlic and butter, paratha which is thinner and flakier than naan, and roti which is the thinnest of them all. 

If you are eating with rice, then just mix your rice in with the sauce of the main dish and eat it together with a fork or spoon. If you are eating with bread, then you can rip off a piece of the bread with your hands then use it to pick up meat or veggies from the main dish. 

The most important thing to remember about eating Indian food is to not worry too much whether you are eating correctly or not. You can choose to eat Indian food however works best for you whether that"s with utensils, with your hands, or a mixture of both. 

Learn more about how to eat and order Indian food. 

India's Regional Cuisines

India is a large country that is made up of what once was many separate kingdoms. Because of this, Indian food varies greatly from region to region.

In the north, the food is heavily influenced by Persian flavors. In the east, the food is spicier and has Portuguese influences. In the west, you can expect more mustard seeds and mustard oil. In the south, many dishes include coconut milk as a sweetener and tamarind as a souring agent. 

North Indian Food

North India is the part of the country that most people visit when they travel to India. Places like Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Jodhpur, and Varanasi are all located in North India. Most Indian restaurants also serve North Indian food so if you"ve had Indian food before it was most likely the North Indian version. 

North Indian cuisine reflects a strong Mughal influence. It is categorized by a high use of dairy such as milk, yogurt, paneer (an Indian mild cheese),  and ghee (clarified butter). Complex spice mixes and tandoori-oven baked dishes are also hallmarks of Northern Indian cooking.

Because wheat is commonly grown in North India, restaurants here typically offer an array of oven-baked breads including naan, roti, and paratha. Naan is often main in a tandoor oven for extra flavor.

Famous northern Indian dishes include samosas, dal makhani (lentil stew with a thick tomato sauce), palak paneer, and korma. 

Eastern Indian Food

In the east, cuisine varies from the meat-heavy dishes of the inland region to the fish and seafood of the coastal region and the Tibetan and Nepalese influenced dishes of the Himalayan region. Most dishes in this area are flavored more subtly than other parts of India.

Mustard seeds, poppy seeds, and mustard oil are favored ingredients as they give dishes a slight pungency.

Popular eastern Indian dishes include momos (Tibetan dumplings), lamb curry, and Bengali fish curry. 

Western Indian Food

Western India includes popular travel destinations like Goa and Mumbai. The cuisine in western India is varied, ranging from simple vegetarian dishes to complicated seafood dishes. Here you"ll find plenty of different types of fish curry and prawn curry. 

As once a major trade port and colony of Portugal, Goa's cuisine has a distinctive and unique blend of Indian and Portuguese culinary elements. Pork and beef are also more heavily used here than in other regions. 

Popular western Indian dishes include Goan fish curry, pav bhaji (buttered bread with a vegetable gravy), and pork vindaloo. 

South Indian Food

South Indian food is the most different from the rest of the country. South Indian dishes are more likely to use coconut milk and coconut instead of cream or yogurt. 

Rice is the staple carb here and is eaten much more than bread, partly because the climate is hot and humid year-round. Most South Indian dishes that look similar to bread, like idli and dosa, are actually made from rice. 

The most important spices produced in South India are cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and pepper. The region is famous for a wide range of spicy foods with each state differing in common dishes, spices, and methods of cooking.

8-Day Diwali Festival in India Golden Triangle Tour Delhi - Agra - Jaipur

Popular Drinks

During the period of the British colonization of India, tea was taken from China and planted in large areas of the Indian hills. Although it was first brought to the county by the British, India has become a true tea country with most people choosing it as their favorite hot beverage over coffee. 

Chai

The most common tea drink in India is chai. Chai is just the Hindi word for "tea" and is made by boiling black tea in equal parts milk and water and then adding spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and saffron. 

Another popular Indian drink is lassi. Lassi is a yogurt drink that is used to cool the stomach after spicy meals. There are two main types of lassi including salty and sweet. Many restaurants also serve other varieties such as mango lassi. 

Other popular drinks in India include fresh-squeezed juice, soda, and beer. The Indian alcohol of choice is whiskey. 

Staying Safe While Eating Street Food

Indian street food has gotten a bad reputation in recent years for unsanitary cooking conditions that cause upset stomachs. While it is true that some street vendors aren't very clean, most of the popular ones work hard to make sure their food doesn"t cause problems. 

When visiting India, it's still possible to try out some of the country's delicious street food by following a few simple rules. Firstly, you should never consume water from street food vendors because it may be tap water which will almost always cause stomach upsets. 

Likewise, avoid consuming ice or raw vegetables from street food vendors.

When trying street food, make sure to ask for recommendations from your guide or hotel staff. They will be able to point out the safe and popular places to buy from. Only buy from vendors that are popular and that allow you to watch your food being prepared. 

Finding Good Restaurants in India

India is full of restaurants. Some good, some great, and some mediocre.

When looking for a restaurant, a good place to start is by asking your hotel staff or guide. They will be able to give you some recommendations for popular restaurants in the city.

Check out our recommendations for some of the absolute best restaurants in India.

You can also easily look for restaurants online. Indians typically use the app Zomato to order food or take a look at nearby restaurants and their menus. 

You might be interested in:

10-Day North India Tour (Delhi to Shimla)

10-Day North India Tour (Delhi to Shimla)

11-Day Inida Highlights and Goa Honeymoon Trip

10-Day Royal Rajasthan and Camel Festival Tour

14-Day India Tour: Ideal for Western Families

2-Week Luxury India Tour

What if You Visit India and Don't Like the Food?

One of the biggest fears for travelers visiting a new country is not finding anything they like to eat.

This fear is valid because Indian food is quite different from western food, but India is such an international country that most people will have no problem finding food they enjoy. Even if they don't like Indian cuisine.

Many 4-star and up hotels offer both continental and Indian breakfast options. Major cities in India are full of international restaurants serving all types of cuisine from British and Italian to Chinese and Thai.

International chains such as Dominos, McDonald"s, KFC, and more are also all over the place and can make for a good meal for travelers who are a little overwhelmed by the local cuisine.

Visit India with Asia Highlights

Asia Highlights welcomes the chance to help you design your perfect trip to India. Check out the following links to learn more about our tours and get a head start on planning your hassle-free vacation today!