Navigating Kansas City’s Indian food scene is a culinary safari. Adventurous eaters stalking the perfect butter chicken, spice-seekers dodging mild kormas like free samples, and first-timers intoxicated by their first whiff of cardamom. All it takes is one transcendent samosa to spark a full-scale flavor revolution.
Swagat Fine Indian Restaurant
$$ | (816) 746-9400 | WEBSITE
This standout Indian restaurant delivers quintessential culinary immersion, with the bold confidence and authenticity of a Mumbai master chef: “Oh, I’ll have the biryani with a side of tamarind sauce, be a good man and bring me some coconut soup whilst you’re at it, darling.” There’s a warm atmosphere, butter chicken on the menu, and plush booths that will cradle you comfortably after a third helping.
That said, you can get away with wearing your casual Friday attire to spend a lazy lunch hour befriending the accommodating staff and merrily gobbling goat curry.
Moti Mahal I
$$ | (816) 746-8000 | WEBSITE
Tucked away in Kansas City, you’ll discover Moti Mahal—a local treasure that has built its reputation by serving generous, soul-warming portions of authentic Indian cuisine. Choose between options like their renowned korma, or the rich and aromatic masala curry. Just be prepared to ask for extra naan when you inevitably want to soak up every last drop of sauce.
The cozy and inviting dining room makes it a perfect spot to visit with family or friends, or even solo for a comforting lunch date with a plate of perfectly balanced curry.
Shagan’s
$ | (816) 214-5025 | WEBSITE
Shagan’s is a genuine Indian kitchen that will serve everyone enough grilled chicken and tikka masala to remind you what home-cooked food should taste like. The tikka masala is a rich, creamy number, and you’ll be tempted to ask the grilled chicken about its secret marinade, given how tender it is. The highlight, though, is the overall authenticity. No unnecessary food colors, no added sugar, just real flavor that stands out in Kansas City.
Shagan’s understands that craving affordable comfort with generous portions is something everyone has in common, especially with friendly faces like Keerthi making it a welcoming spot you can’t wait to return to.
Seva Cuisine of India
$$ | (816) 407-9700 | WEBSITE
In our opinion, any restaurant that encourages you to order two orders of vegetable pakoras instead of one has a deep understanding of how to make the most of intense shopping days and rapidly dropping blood sugar levels. Seva Cuisine of India is exactly that kind of restaurant, and everything from the Chicken Masala in generous portions, to the mild and tasty Butternut Squash masala have the power to stop your incessant ‘do I have Seasonal Affective Disorder’ googling habits.
A round of the delicious desserts won’t hurt either.
Taj Mahal Authentic Cuisine of india
$ | (816) 361-1722 | WEBSITE
Taj Mahal feels like the kind of restaurant where you’d find a family celebrating a birthday after hearing rave reviews from their neighbors in Overland Park. In a cozy strip mall off Metcalf Avenue, this Indian eatery is one part comfort, two parts flavor with a buffet full of things like Chicken Tikka Masala, vegetable curries, saag paneer, and fresh naan. It’s a welcoming space that’s perfect for a hearty lunch or a casual dinner over rich curries and mango lassis any day of the week.
Sahara Fine Indian Cuisine
$ | (816) 746-5700 | WEBSITE
The Kansas City location of this cozy Indian restaurant is just as dependable as its reputation suggests. Their butter chicken is consistently excellent—the creamy, perfectly spiced sauce is a real standout—but the tandoori chicken and veggie pakora here are similarly satisfying. It’s a dining experience that suits quick carryout meals as well as leisurely ones, solo visits, or group gatherings.
Tikka House
$ | (816) 842-7232 | WEBSITE
Yes, this Indian gem is located inside—deep breath—a multi-generational family place with a spice shop. And yes, despite that, it’s pretty great. It doesn’t quite live up to the authentic street food stalls of Mumbai, but that’s to be expected given that it’s part restaurant, part retail experience. The food however, is still delicious. A veggie wrap with obscene amounts of saffron inside a soft flatbread, served with a side of sauces for dipping. Appetizers and BBQ rubs that are great to share.
And that spice shop aroma that we want to be our plus one to all future meals.
Curry In A Hurry
$ | (816) 216-1144 | WEBSITE
No doubt an eponym to Kansas City’s busiest and hungriest lunch crowds, Curry In A Hurry is one of the most reasonable and tasty places to eat in the area. This casual spot serves Indian dishes from across the subcontinent—Chicken 65, butter chicken, and goat curry—all for under fifteen dollars. It’s unlikely to be the most refined version of each you’ll ever try, but it’s the best in the area if you’re looking for a low price, quick, and tasty meal.
The butter chicken is suitably rich, humming with tomato and cream, and is our usual order.
Mint Masala Restaurant
$ | (816) 800-4045 | WEBSITE
For just over ten dollars at Mint Masala, you can get a takeout container filled to the top with Andhra Pradesh style butter chicken, basmati rice, and fresh naan, all drenched in a rich, creamy, and fiery sauce. It’s as flavorful as it is hearty, and there’s plenty more on the Indian menu, from classic curries to daily specials. If the mood strikes, walk a few steps into the attached grocery store, pick up some spices or snacks, and dig right in.
Elephant Wings
$ | (816) 588-5973 | WEBSITE
Curry, tandoori, and satisfaction is a big combination after a long day. Thankfully, given their name, Elephant Wings does not disappoint. The Indian restaurant in Kansas City makes unique dishes (both with and without traditional wings), that combines fantastic, flavor-packed creations with a variety of traditional Indian spices. The Tikka Masala feels like curry 101 here—combining perfectly balanced heat in a rich and creamy sauce.
Taj Palace
$ | (816) 756-0134 | WEBSITE
You just spent an hour circling 39th Street looking for parking, and now you’re convinced your car smells permanently of exhaust and mild panic. Luckily, Taj Palace has enough warm spices in the air to completely overwhelm your vehicular aroma, a quiet dining room to soothe the fact you’re 15 minutes late for your own lunch reservation, and some truly exceptional Indian classics. Their butter chicken with freshly baked naan is pretty much guaranteed to restore your faith in the day.
