Having been a Pittsburgher for nearly 5 years, I had started to believe that good Indian food in our city was a rare commodity. But a recent exploration of Indian cuisine in the ‘burgh has proved my theory wrong. A wide variety of Indian restaurants exist all over Pittsburgh, so many in fact that we decided to feature 5 establishments which, although delicious, may have been overlooked by some restaurant goers.
Taj Mahal
McKnight Road
Taj Mahal Restaurant, offers a large menu of Indian dishes that represent regional food from all over the country. The restaurant makes everything from scratch including their yogurt and cheese which is made fresh daily. Taj Mahal boasts a menu of over 240 items and still manages to offer fresh and authentic food to all their customers. And don’t let the immensity of the menu scare you away, Taj Mahal is known for their excellent customer service and is more than willing to help every patron figure out what dishes will suit them best.
Bangal Kabab House
Oakland
Located just a few blocks from Pitt, this small restaurant resides just off the beaten path and serves up the best authentic Bangladeshi cuisine in Pittsburgh. A bright red awning greets you when you approach the restaurant and inside you’ll find a cozy yet vibrant interior. With an incredibly reasonable menu, including a $9.99 lunch buffet, this restaurant is a great choice for a solo lunch or a big dinner with friends.
Taste of India
Bloomfield and Squirrel Hill
Taste of India is located on Penn Avenue and their sister restaurant, the Resnik Cafe, resides on the CMU campus. Their Bloomfield location has an extensive beer and wine menu, including a selection of imported Indian beers. Don’t let the neon signs in the window fool you, both restaurants offer up authentic Indian fare and a dessert menu with unique dishes like Gulab Jumun; a light pastry made from dry milk served in a sweet syrup.
Tamarind
Oakland
This quaint restaurant is located on the first floor of an old Victorian on N. Craig Street. Although you might feel like you’re dining at a relative’s house, we guarantee you won’t find any jello molds here. The menu is a mixture of both Southern and Northern cuisine. One of their signature dishes is the Southern dosas; paper thin pancakes that are offered in 12 different varieties. Don’t miss their ‘Sunday Dinner for Two” deal which includes 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and 1 bread for $25.
People’s Restaurant
Garfield
Garfield isn’t necessarily known for it’s vast selection of great restaurants. But People’s Restaurant on Penn Avenue is the perfect spot for an intimate dinner or a take-out feast. People’s serves amazing food in a tranquil and timeless atmosphere and offers a wide selection of entrees for both vegan and vegetarian diners. Also, People’s is one of the only Indian restaurants in Pittsburgh that delivers. So don’t even worry about leaving your couch tonight.
