Exploring Modern Indian Cuisine? 8 Innovative Restaurants in L.A.

Indian cuisine is undergoing an exciting evolution in Los Angeles. While the city has long been home to excellent traditional Indian restaurants a new wave of chefs and restaurateurs are now putting a modern spin on classic dishes and ingredients. From reinvented street food to progressive Indian fusion concepts these restaurant showcase the range and adaptability of Indian flavors. If you’re exploring to expand your understanding of Indian food beyond curries and naan bread be sure to check out these modern 8 innovative restaurants redefining the cuisine in L.A.

Arth Bar & Kitchen

Aerospace engineer Mihir Lad brought his lifelong dream to life by opening Arth Bar & Kitchen in Culver City in 2021. The restaurant celebrate the traditional Indian fare Lad grew up with while also moving the cuisine forward. One weekend per month Arth throws a brunch buffet party with bottomless mimosas a Bollywood DJ, and dancing. The everyday menu features regional Indian cuisine alongside Lad’s modern creation like lamb truffle seekh kebabs, chicken tikka tacos, and avocado bhel with added creaminess. Don’t miss the top-notch cocktails either.

Baar Baar

Downtown L.A. glamorous new addition Baar Baar serves upscale Indian cuisine courtesy of chef Sujan Sarkar. Highlights include Kashmiri duck birria tacos created specifically for Angelenos and magnificent cocktails like the Anarkali which riffs on a negroni with Darjeeling tea. Save room for starter like avocado pachadis and dosas, as well as the dahi puri yogurt mousse. Baar Baar brings a taste of luxury to the city Indian dining landscape.

Badmaash

Badmaash has been dishing out nostalgic diasporic Indian flavors for over a decade. Brothers Nakul and Arjun Mahendro fuse Indian and Western flavor via dishes like spice-battered chicken, broccolini with mustard oil and customizable channa masala poutine. Their new project, Hakka Hakka, spotlights beloved Indian Chinese dishes.

Cali Chilli

Long Beach Cali Chilli from owner Praveen Nair and chef Manjunath Mural unite regional Indian cooking with international flair. Signature mashup include eggplant bharta lasagna, butter chicken pot pie, and pani puri poppers. With a mission to appeal to all culinary enthusiasts, Cali Chilli’s cross-cultural approach makes Indian cuisine more accessible. A new Little Tokyo location is set for 2023.

Kahani

Kahani at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel started as a Diwali pop-up but won over diners so much it became permanent. Led by chef Sanjay Rawat, the globally-inspired Indian menu stars dishes like masala paneer en croute baked in puff pastry, phenomenal chaat, and ajwain scallops in cauliflower cream. Kahani represents some of the most creative upscale Indian cooking in California.

Pijja Palace

No list of modern Indian restaurants is complete without Silver Lake’s iconic Pijja Palace. Owner Avish Naran playfully remixes Indian flavors via dishes like the famed green chutney pizza, malai rigatoni, and imaginative cocktails. By sparking diners’ interest in reinvented Indian cuisine, Pijja Palace has catalyzed L.A.’s modern South Asian food movement and inspired other chefs to get creative too.

Roots Indian Bistro

Father-son duo Paramjit Singh and Anmoldeep Khinda put a novel spin on Indian flavors at Roots Indian Bistro in Fairfax. Their dishes include mac and cheese pakoras, naan bruschetta, vindaloo dumplings, and more. Menu items pay homage to L.A. neighborhoods and Khinda’s cross-cultural upbringing. Don’t miss their take on a chalupa stuffed with channa and Indian-inspired pastas.

Shor

Shor in Hawaiian Gardens resembles a glitzy Indian nightclub. Halal menu highlights from chef Imran “Ali” Mookhi include farm-to-table chapli kebabs, goat cheese kulcha bread with truffle oil, dahi puri, and nonalcoholic cocktails. Mookhi previously worked at Tantra and Tumbi and aims to prepare traditional regional dishes using modern techniques at Shor. It’s an immersive, progressive Indian dining experience.

This new wave of Indian restaurants proves the cuisine can be just as bold, eclectic, and constantly evolving as the diverse city it calls home. From street food remixes to luxury tasting menus, the possibilities of Indian food in L.A. are endless. These innovative spots and their boundary-pushing chefs are ensuring Angelenos can always discover new and exciting flavors. I sincerely hope you find this “Exploring Modern Indian Cuisine, 8 Innovative Restaurants in L.A.” article helpful.