Boston, MAIndian

A few steps underground in Kenmore Square, this North Indian room has anchored the neighborhood through decades of change. Specialties include beef bhuna, a thick curry of onions and tomatoes, and a deeply savory goat curry. Save room for milky kheer pudding and house-made kulfi.

A small, always-busy Inman Square spot serving cart-style trays heaped with steaming vindaloo, assorted chaat, and stuffed parathas. A sister to the longtime Central Square stalwart India Pavilion, it turns out some of the city's finest Punjabi snacks, curries, and breads.

Open in Dorchester since 1999 with a Roslindale sibling, Shanti is one of the city's most decorated Indian kitchens. The sprawling menu spans fragrant bhuna, korma, and jhalfrezi, a thick green chili-spiced curry, making the hardest part of the meal simply choosing what to order.

This West Roxbury institution helped define Nepali and Indian dining in Boston, with fresh roti, dosa, addictive fried pakora, and plump momo. The owners later expanded into Newton Center with a second restaurant, House of Tandoor, though the original remains the destination.

The South End's first Indian restaurant, open since 2007, leans on house-made breads and a long vegetarian list alongside modern specialties like pork vindaloo. The vegan-friendly subz panchmael, a cardamom-scented stir-fry of peppers, artichokes, and asparagus, stands out beyond the usual curries.