Travelling lets you explore an entirely new culture, and you are also introduced to an exciting and novel cuisine. However, there will always be those days during your travels when you miss your favourites from back home. A creamy dollop of butter chicken, a satisfying meal of dal-chawal or just the good old idli-sambhar could make your time away from home feel a little more comforting. Goa has hundreds of restaurants serving Indian food, but these are my picks for those that serve some tempting and unforgettable dishes.
Best North Indian food in Goa
Masala House, Porvorim
Masala House finds itself located in the busiest part of Porvorim, on the highway from Panjim to Mapusa. It boasts of a beautifully elegant, classy and contemporary ambience that seamlessly complements its aesthetically plated and finger-licking food. The restaurant’s menu encompasses a large variety of Indian cuisine – from biryanis to meat and vegetable preparations. Make sure to try their kebabs, kheema and the wide selection of the softest Indian bread that you will ever eat. Don’t forget to dig into their bar menu and indulge in their cocktails. Keep an eye out on their social media page to find out when they have enticing food festivals running.
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Caava Courtyard, Anjuna
An alfresco joint that makes for a wonderful Sunday brunch outing, the Caava Courtyard is located right in the heart of Anjuna. It wears a very sophisticated contemporary decor that is flawlessly complemented by its nature-infused, biophilic design. While it offers some fun starters from various international cuisines, its Indian spread boasts of soft kebabs and melt-in-the-mouth tikkas, an unforgettable Paneer Lababdar and lip-smacking Mutton Nihari. From breeze cabanas to a pool table and even a tree-house-like setting on a Banyan tree, this is a lovely place to spend an afternoon/evening.
Angry Sardar Courtyard, Anjuna
You’ll find the Angry Sardar Courtyard always buzzing with activity. This popular restaurant is a mix between a stylish dhaba and an eclectic restaurant. It boasts of an extravagant in-house bar (on an actual truck) and a wide range of North Indian delicacies from the clay oven. If you love quirky decor, you’ll find this Instagrammable restaurant to be a great one-time visit. Moreover, they are also open for breakfast and offer some delicious and popular favourites such as kulchas, paranthas and kachoris. These delectable delicacies can help you satiate your longing for your home and all its flavours.
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The Basil Leaf, Porvorim
The Basil Leaf restaurant sits right on the main road that goes from Panjim to Porvorim, opposite Delfino’s. It’s lavish, spacious, and subtly complemented by its soothing lighting. Along with a marvellous selection of local Goan platters, it also offers Oriental and Mughlai appetisers. The restaurant is also known for its aesthetic and palatable cocktails that can really complete your mid-workweek lunch.
Spice Mantraa, Candolim
Spice Mantraa bestows on Candolim its appetising food by offering to create a wholesome experience for its customers. Its menu is divided into sections that are titled based on the kind of experience it is looking to create. The restaurant has a sizable menu that includes some of the popular favourites from Indian cuisine such as Chicken Chettinad, Mutton Rogan Josh, Paneer Makhani and a wide selection of Biryanis. They also have a hand-picked section for some really exciting, innovative desserts and drinks. This restaurant is one of my favourites for the comfort it offers, the taste of food and warm hospitality that can match that of five-star resorts. Pro Tip – try the Chikoo Ensemble, Coconut Ice and Dal Makhani.
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Chulha (Grand Hyatt), Bambolim
The Grand Hyatt in Goa is renowned for curating some of the most exceptional meals. The magnificent restaurant located along Bambolim Beach flaunts an almost regal interior and a luxuriously contemporary ambience. It’s spacious, classy and even offers a view of the vast and serene Bambolim beach. The Chulha has curated an all-India menu that includes chaat spreads, starters and a main course from different parts of the country such as Lucknow, Punjab, Hyderabad, Maharashtra and so on. One can also find a separate dedicated section for Goan cuisine. Lastly, you cannot leave without indulging in their sweeping section of handcrafted sweets that are sure to leave you swooning. Chulha can be a real treat for those looking to really relish in a luxurious food experience.
Sukkha, Assagao
Sukkha is another alfresco restaurant wrapped in the lush, green landscape of Assagao. It can make for a cosy and intimate dining experience thanks to its easy aesthetics and spacious decor. It offers a detailed selection of Indian favourites along with an extensive local Goan spread and a Sukkha special bar menu. Their kebabs and cocktails are worth getting your hands on and the ambience is worth indulging in, especially if you are looking for a quiet and comfortable dining experience. You will find some inventive dishes such as butter chicken khichdi, as well as my personal favourites such as kurkure bhindi and lamb chops.
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Kourm, Anjuna
The ultimate joint to soak in the dhaba experience! Kourm in Anjuna has quickly shot up to one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve tried in Goa. Serving mouth-watering tikkas and kebabs, soulful curries and naans as they do up North, it’s a place I could keep going back to time and again. I’d highly recommend their Seekh (I tried both veg and non-veg options, and they were stellar). Speaking of veg options, vegetarians will find plenty on the menu to delight the palate. Immense care and attention have gone into replicating the taste of every dish – right from hand-pounding masalas to importing meat from Delhi. No quick fixes, and it definitely shows in the taste of the food. The music is a bit too loud for my preference, but if you like a high-energy vibe with your food, head on over. Try the biryani sizzler for an instant food coma.
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The Rasoda, Old Goa
The Rasoda has quite a few outlets in the state, and while most of them are ‘mithanas’ or sweet shops, their Old Goa outlet is a restaurant where you can try the best vegetarian North Indian food in Goa. Here, you can choose from their elaborate a la carte menu or do what I do and go for their Maharaja Thali. If you have friends who love to eat, the Maharaja Thali, priced at Rs 1799 for unlimited chaat, snacks, tandoori starters, 25+ mains and desserts will send you straight into a food coma. And yea, it is 100% vegetarian and totally ghee-licious. While The Rasoda had introduced the Maharaja Thali for 4 people initially, they now also have the option for 1, 2 and 3 people, along with new options, namely the Rajasthan Thali and Punjabi Thali. If the sight of this much food has your jaw-dropping, they offer a mini thali as well. Since the monsoons are here, you can also drop in for some lip-smacking monsoon snacks to satisfy those cravings. I’m talking hot samosas, vada pao, kadak chai and more.
The Royal Afghan, Cansaulim
The Royal Afghan at ITC Grand Goa is a gorgeous beachside restaurant serving the flavours of Mughal cuisine in Cansaulim. This newly renovated al fresco restaurant offers beautiful ocean views for a sundowner and is a wonderful spot for a long leisurely dinner. The menu is short, but lavish, with starters framing both sides of the board, and a few main course dishes in the centre. It largely comprises tandoor-cooked dishes, gravies and rotis. You are encouraged to eat with your hands, but cutlery is provided if you ask, but no item from the menu warrants the use of cutlery, anyway.
Indulge in sizzling Tandoori Jhinga/Lobster/Pomfret, Malai Kebabs, Seekh Kebabs, Tandoori veggies, Dal Bhukhara, Murgh/Paneer Makhani and more. The Tandoori Prawns were 10/10 and the Kadak Seekh Kebab, which came highly recommended by the staff was a winner as well. It consisted of chicken mince rolls stuffed with cheese and chilli, being popped into the tandoor before being batter-fried to crispiness. With starters like these, who can eat mains? We sampled the Murgh Khurchan which was another suggestion by the staff. Tandoori chicken slivers, pan-fried with tomatoes, and onions until caramelized and divine! If the desserts were less tempting, I’d have given them a miss, given the richness of the meal. But I knew from the mains that The Royal Afghan sets the bar for Indian food, and the Gulab Jamun didn’t disappoint. Save this spot for when you have something special to celebrate – for the meal will be memorable, for it defines luxury beachside dining.
Love an Indian restaurant in Goa you think should feature in this list? Should I also feature Goa’s best South India restaurants? Drop me a comment and let me know. I’d love to check it out.
