With its rich flavours and varied dishes, Indian food has a legion of passionate fans. (Our hands are firmly raised!) In Hong Kong, we benefit from the presence of the city’s Indian community, ensuring there are plenty of authentic restaurants. Check out our thoughts on five of our favourite Indian restaurants in Hong Kong.
Gomes Gastropub
Helmed by father-and-son duo Monu and Alex, Gomes Gastropub is a hidden neighbourhood gem on Caine Road. The pair cleverly matches their authentic home-cooked family Goan and Indian recipes with a casual gastropub vibe.
On our recent visit, we kicked off with a portion of the house favourite: Gol Market’s Gol Gappa. Somewhat similar to panipuri, these are served with different flavoured waters (including pomegranate, in this case) that you pour into the snack before eating. They were a light and tasty start to our meal.
From the tandoor section, we tried the smoked chicken tikka. The five pieces of succulent chicken were charred to perfection with just the right amount of smokiness, and served with a trio of chutneys. (We loved the desi mashed potato!)
The curries here are fragrant, light and tasty. We really enjoyed the “Railway Chicken Curry” and highly recommend the Goan pork vindaloo. There’s also a comprehensive selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes, and the dal makhani was possibly the best I’ve eaten in Hong Kong. Steamed basmati rice and garlic naan were both perfect accompaniments to our dishes.
What’s more, the prices are very reasonable with prices around $100 to $120 per dish. There are plenty of deals including weekend brunches, sets (the Thali looks very tempting for another visit) and well-priced happy hours. The bar is well stocked, with plenty of choices of beers, cocktails and wines.
We really enjoyed our visit to Gomes Gastropub – highly recommended!
– Kate Woodbury
Gomes Gastropub
No. 2, G/F, 58-62 Caine Road, Mid-Levels
gomesgastropub.oddle.me/en_HK
Gaylord
Gaylord first opened its doors in 1972. In view of Hong Kong’s highly competitive restaurant scene, not to mention the sky-high commercial rents, we wanted to discover the secret to its longevity.
On arrival, we’re greeted by smiling faces and the heady aromas of spices and freshly baked naans from the tandoor. We can’t wait to dive into the menu!
The onion bhaji and vegetable samosas are crispy delights. Chicken tikka malai is delicately marinated in yoghurt and cardamom, and the plump chicken is moist. The vegetable dishes are delicious, too. The fresh okra in the bhindi masala retains a little bite, while the chole bhature is a wonderful contrast of textures; chick peas in rich tomato gravy with two large bhatura (fried unleavened bread).
Now for the big hitters. Gaylord absolutely nails the chicken tikka masala, but the real showstopper is the lamb madras – tender chunks cooked in a rich, spicy, coconutty gravy, served with a fragrant saffron pulao and a delightfully charred yet pillowy garlic naan.
The restaurant’s general manager Bharat Devgan and his staff take great care in everything they do. The menu is vast, the service warm and the live pianist another nice touch – and the wonderful dishes proudly take centre stage. It’s 48 years young, and while many others have come and gone, Gaylord is still very much lord of the manor.
– Karl Woodbury
Gaylord
5/F, Prince Tower, 12A Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
mayfare.com.hk
Bombay Dreams
If being busy is the sign of a good restaurant, then Bombay Dreams, a fine-dining eatery that blends a contemporary feel with authentic Indian dishes, is clearly excellent.
We opted for the tasting menu – three courses, plus accompaniments and desserts. Aside from being very reasonably priced, it has the added benefit of making selecting from the extensive menu a lot easier!
The meal began with the arrival of an amuse bouche, which signalled straight away we were in for a special night. For the first course, I chose scallop kadipatta – scallops with dried curry leaves and roasted garlic; it was a marriage of flavours that didn’t disappoint. My husband started with the cheese balls – homemade cottage cheese dumplings stuffed with peppers and served with tomato chutney, a substantial starter with a rustic feel.
The second course offerings were a choice of tandoori pink salmon, rosemary chicken tikka or sesame paneer tikka. My rosemary chicken tikka was easily the best I’ve had – great flavour with perfectly cooked chicken. My husband was similarly impressed with the paneer.
For the third course, we chose a lamb dish, dum ka gosht, juicy chunks of meat slow-cooked in gravy with cashew and brown onion paste, and chicken Murgh-e-Bahar. We fininshed our meal with a dessert of anjeer ka tukda, a delicate bread pudding with figs and pistachio.
– Melissa Stevens
Bombay Dreams
1/F, Winning Centre, 46 Wyndham Street, Central
sandshospitality.com/portfolio/bombay-dreamss
New Punjab Club
It’s fairly obvious as you enter the elegant setting that is New Punjab Club that you’re in for a special experience. With plush leather booths, embossed wall panels and fascinating artwork, the place oozes sophistication with its bold post-Colonial Punjab ambience.
The well-stocked gin trolley arrived shortly after we sat down. I’m not usually a gin drinker, but I decided to indulge after our waiter explained the options with such enthusiasm, and I’m pleased I did.
The waiters are friendly and knowledgeable and we went with their recommendations throughout, starting with one of the stars of the night, samosa chaat. The smashed samosas, covered in tamarind glaze and yoghurt, with crispy noodles and pomegranate seeds to add some crunch, were simply sensational. Next, we tried the keema pau – delicious spiced mutton – and lahori seekh, a wagyu mince kebab.
Our orders for the main course were Mughal Room Makhani, rich and creamy, and the show-stopping masalewali chanp, two huge lamb chops served with beetroot salad and ember-roasted onion.
We were so full, but we had to try dessert (it’s a different stomach, right?). The sticky toffee pudding was sweet and delicious, but the standout for us was the lemon posset with raspberry sorbet – light, refreshing and just perfect.
The food is superb, the service is impeccable and you leave feeling like you’ve just experienced a little slice of Punjab history, right here in Hong Kong.
– Danielle Higgins
New Punjab Club
34 Wyndham Street, Central
newpunjabclub.com
JoJo Indian Cuisine
We headed to JoJo Indian Cuisine in Wan Chai to try out their leisurely weekend brunch.
The brunch has two components, a live chaat counter where a chef prepares authentic street-food style dishes, and a buffet of hot dishes. We started with a fresh mango lassi and a classic masala dosa with a delicious potato filling and a flavoursome chutney, before our freshly prepared street snacks were delivered to our table.
It was my first, but certainly not last, experience of dahi bhala, a beautifully decadent mass of yoghurty flour balls. We also got to sample pani puri, a round hollow fried crisp that you puncture and then fill with sauces. Pao bhaji, an Indian fast food dish consisting of a vegetable curry and soft bread roll, was fun and filling.
We then moved on to the second stage of the brunch by hitting the buffet and salad bar. We loved the delicious vegetarian Manchurian curry, and the rich and creamy chicken korma. This was all accompanied by fresh and fluffy naan and a biryani. There’s also a selection of traditional desserts to finish the meal.
While we stuck to the lassis, you can order sparkling wine by the bottle for HK$128, and a selection of other pitchers of drinks. At HK$168 per person, and HK$108 for kids aged four to ten, it’s easily one of the best value brunches in Hong Kong, and definitely one of the most interesting.
– Melissa Stevens
JoJo Indian Cuisine
37-39 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai 2/F, David House
facebook.com/Jojocuisine
Looking for more foodie inspiration? See more in our Wine & Dine section
Dining districts: Where to eat in Hong Kong
New menus and new venues in Hong Kong
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