What Are The Best Indian Food To Try In Times Square, NYC?

New York City is a vibrant city of different races, ethnicities, and cultures, which is best reflected through its diverse varieties of cuisines from all around the world, especially Indian food in Times Square. Foreigners have always been big fans of Indian food, and you can see here long queues in front of cafes and restaurants that serve Indian dishes. These traditional dishes bring warmth and comfort that come with a cultural significance. However, Indian food is quite complex— and it is not just about aromatic Biryanis, succulent Chicken Tikka Masala, or Butter Chicken with Naan Bread— it’s more than that! 

The Indian subcontinent has an overwhelming number of regional traditional cuisines that date back to around 5000 years during the Indus Valley Civilization and have been passed down to the present generations. With countless foreign invasions and fusions along the trade routes with other Asian nations in the past, Indian food has truly become a fascinating delight!

Must-Try Indian Food In Times Square, NYC

Indian Food in Times Square, NYC, is top-tier. It includes North Indian dishes and a wide range of cuisines, including South Indian, Gujarati, Bengali, and fusion foods like Indo-Chinese. We have curated a list of the most authentic and delicious food offered by the best Indian restaurant in Midtown, which is a must-try when you visit NYC. So, let’s dive into the platter!

1. Appetizers

Indian food experience always starts with appetizers that tantalize your palate. Samosas are an all-time favorite choice due to their crunchy-and-flaky base with spiced potato stuffing. For a more crunchy treat, try the vegetable or chicken pakoras along with a hot cup of masala chai. Paneer Fingers, a fusion of deep-fried paneer covered with refined flour, cornflour, and spices, gets dipped in mint chutney, imparting a smoky and tangy taste, perfect for getting the party started.

2. Varieties of Breads

Breads are an integral component and staple of Indian cuisine. Naan bread, a flat, soft, and fluffy bread best served plain or slightly flavored with butter or garlic, is a fantastic accompaniment to curries. Aloo parathas, made of spiced potato, onion, or paneer, also complement the meal. Finally, there is the simpler but earthy taste of roti (or chappati) or the richer flavor of lacha paratha.

3. Sides

Indian cuisine takes genuine authenticity to a different level with balanced and contrasting flavors. The essence of infusing aloo-gobhi and dal makhani is a fantastic foundation for bread and rice. The fragrance of Jeera aloo with rice and dal tadka is sure to have an irresistible appeal. Cooling raita, a salad made with yogurt, cucumber, and spices, helps to balance out hotter dishes, as does thick chutneys and pickles for added sourness.

4. Biryani and Rice

The king of every Indian restaurant menu and dinner table, Biryani, is praising as one of India’s best foods. It is a multi-layered dish with basmati rice, spices, meat, seafood, and vegetables. The Hyderabadi biryani, with saffron and fried onions, is a must-try. Vegetable pulao, a lighter version with more flavor for vegetarian fans, is also available. These rice dishes can be complement with spicy chicken gravy or cooling yogurt for a stronger flavor profile.

5. Main Course

The essence of Indian food is portraying through its glorious main course. Butter chicken has a reason to be an internationally loved chicken dish because of its thick tomato-based sauce. For vegetarians, paneer tikka masala is an excellent choice as it is rich and thick. If you’re looking for more spicy dishes, vindaloo dishes are good to start, while dal makhani will appeal to those who appreciate the smoky flavor of lentil stew cooked through a slow process.

6. Chicken Dishes

Nothing beats the comfort and warmth that Indian dishes bring to the table. While Tandoori chicken is an all-time favorite of many meat eaters, the black pepper chicken curry swimming in the array of spices and its aroma steals the limelight. And if you want one magic dish that will shower you with a delicious layer of aromatic rice, try chicken biryani combined with marinated chicken.

7. Meat Dishes

Indian cuisine can be described as an extravagant and heavy experience for red meat lovers. Lamb rogan josh is slow-cooked meat marinated in spiced yogurt that is guaranteed to melt in your mouth. Mutton curry is even better. It is a quintessential dish enrich with spices and boneless mutton meat; it is simply a culinary masterpiece! And then there are kebabs, minced meat, and grilled meat on skewers.

8. Seafood

With its long coastline, India offers a treasure trove of delicacies for seafood lovers. Kerala prawn curry is a little sweeter, as it mixes coconut milk, onion, and tomato sauce. A good spice marinade and grilled fish on skewers, like salmon tikka tandoori, give every bite a luscious textural contrast. Crab masala further elevates the crab delicacy by mixing fresh crab meat with spices.

9. Dessert

Indian sweets are unlike any other form of dessert worldwide due to their variety of textures, cooking process, and unique flavors. One example is Gajar Ka Halwa, a delicious dessert made using carrots, milk, and ghee that is warm and quite comforting during winter. The next sweet is arguably the most delectable dessert: gulab jamun. Its core principle is soft milk dumplings drizzle with sugar syrup, which can be describe as having a melt-in-your-mouth-type feel.

Final Words

New York City has earned a reputation for being an entertainment hub with great skyscrapers, flashy billboards, and diverse history and culture. Still, the world-class Indian cuisine and restaurants it offers are spectacular. Indian cuisine, with its history and colorful flavors, is a treat that must be experience. So, whether you’re a starving traveler or a citizen, the dishes offered by these best Indian food restaurants in Midtown will surely leave a mark in your heart for a lifetime.