Austin, TXIndian

Housed in a historic downtown limestone building since 1998, Clay Pit runs a tandoor-forward North Indian menu under chef Maqbool Ahmed. Expect korma, saag, and tikka masala alongside fresh naan pulled from the clay oven. It has taken the Austin Chronicle readers' poll for Indian food three years running through 2024, and the lunch buffet keeps the downtown crowd coming back.

A fast-casual spinoff of Clay Pit, Tarka serves the same North Indian flavors at counter-service prices. Order tikka masala, saag paneer, or a curry over rice or a naan wrap, then dress it up at the chutney bar. The Brodie Lane location anchors South Austin, and the quick-turnaround format makes it a weeknight staple for families across the metro.

This Spicewood Springs Road kitchen serves Nepali momos and gobi Manchurian alongside a full North and South Indian menu. The steamed and fried dumplings come with a fiery tomato-based sauce, and the Indo-Chinese dishes give the menu range. It sits in a Northwest Hills strip center, a quiet neighborhood spot that rewards anyone willing to order beyond the familiar curries.

Billed as Austin's first restaurant with a dedicated Nepalese menu, Saffron mixes North and South Indian classics with Indo-Chinese plates on Far West Boulevard. The chef pedigree here fed the wider Nepali dining scene around Spicewood Springs. Come for momos, dosas, and chili chicken, plus a lunch buffet that draws the Northwest Hills crowd.