Kansas City's Best Indian Food
Rich curries, crispy samosas, flavorful biryanis… mouth watering yet? You’re in luck. Kansas City is home to many amazing Indian restaurants, and contributor Sonia Khosla is taking us on a culinary journey of the best this city has to offer.
Elephant Wings. Photo by Jillian Bode
If I could eat any type of cuisine for all my meals it would hands down be Indian food. Why? Indian food is so rich in spices and flavors—cardamom, garam masala, cayenne, tamarind, to name a few. They all come together to create beautiful dishes. I have eaten my way through the Indian restaurant scene in KC, and here is my guide to some of the best Indian restaurants in the metro, ranging from Overland Park all the way to the City Market.
Photo by Sonia Khosla
India Palace | 9918 W 87th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212
Located in a small strip mall in downtown Overland Park, India Palace serves meals full of flavor. Every dish on the menu is delightful. Butter chicken, a popular Indian dish with a buttery gravy spiced to perfection, is my go-to at India Palace. If you ask me, it’s best eaten with garlic naan or paneer naan.
Seva Cuisine of India | 8674 NE Flintlock Rd, Kansas City, MO 64157
Interested in taking a short road trip to Liberty for flavors you can't pass up on? Then Seva is your spot. Perfectly cooked tandoori chicken, chicken marinated in yogurt and beautiful spices cooked in a tandoor (a cylindrical oven), and tons of Indian mainstays that can be adjusted to whatever protein you’d like! Seva serves the heat should you like your Indian food hot with dishes like chili paneer and jalapeno naan. A nearly perfect meal ends with a delightful cup of chai, as all meals should.
Photos by Anna Petrow
Moti Mahal | 4113 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64111
Located right in the heart of Westport, Moti Mahal is a perfect spot to kick off a fun night out or a cozy night in. This restaurant has been a mainstay for a long time: awards lining the walls and aromas wafting out of the kitchen quickly tell you why. The Mango Lassi here is tart and refreshing—perfect for washing down a warm bowl of tikka masala! Visit at lunchtime for their buffet, it's a great way to try new things.
KORMA SUTRA | 12112 W 87th St Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66215
Known for their incredible lunch buffet, this Lenexa spot has some of the metro’s best Indian cuisine. While lunchtime is certainly the most affordable way to try it all, their dinner menu also boasts a wide array of delicious menu items– from vegetarian specialties to Tandoori, Biriyani, and seafood, chicken and goat entrees, their dishes are cooked to perfection, spiced beautifully and served with love.
Photo by @everything_waldo
Taj Mahal | 7521 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64114
Taj Mahal is a great, authentic spot in Waldo. Taj Mahal has a lunch and dinner buffet seven days a week, nice ambiance, and delicious food. What's not to love? While I do love getting a mix of food from the buffet, I crave the spicy chicken tikka masala from this joint.
shagan’s | 8436 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64114
With a from-scratch menu changing daily, Shagan’s is the perfect place to try some new dishes. Some of their most popular items: Chana Masala, Vegetable Korma, Butter Chicken and their mouthwatering samosas. Everything is ready quickly and served hot & fresh, making it the perfect place to grab a bite when a craving hits!
Touch of Asia | 6860 W 105th St, Overland Park, KS 66212
Located in the heart of Overland Park, Touch of Asia is family owned Indian restaurant featuring a diverse menu including traditional Indian fare, South Indian cuisine and also some fusion dishes. Noteworthy dishes include dosa, lentil crepes made of rice and lentil flour served with sambar (a lentil-based stew) and coconut chutney, and aloo tikki chaat, a delicious street food with chickpeas, potatoes topped with finger-licking chutneys.
Photo by @huongalicious
Tikka House | 411 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64105
Tikka House is a hidden gem in the city market. The shop is filled with spices and all sorts of Indian items like Rooh Afza and Mehndi. Tikka House has a delicious and affordable lunch menu. The dishes aren't gravy laden but are still exceptionally flavorful. Truthfully it reminds me of the food my Dad cooks. Every dish comes with a small salad and raita, an Indian dish that is used to cool the palate.
Photo by Jillian Bode
ELEPHANT WINGS | 1599 Iron St Container E, North Kansas City, MO 64116
Newly opened inside of North KC’s Iron District, popular private chef Ameet Malhotra is bringing his tasty creations to the public. Diners are loving his Indian fusion dishes like super-popular Tikka Masala poutine, and the Bombay-Mi, twist on a Bahn Mi with cumin chicken, coriander chutney, pickled cucumbers and curry aioli.
