What is the best Indian dish?

From weeknight North Indian curries to South Indian breakfast staples and street-cart snacks, this spans the country's regional kitchens end to end. Cast your vote!

1

Butter Chicken

A North Indian curry of tandoori chicken simmered in a creamy tomato-butter sauce, born in 1950s Delhi.

1000pts

2

Hyderabadi Biryani

A layered rice dish of marinated meat and basmati rice slow-cooked with saffron, from the kitchens of the Nizams of Hyderabad.

833pts

3

Pav Bhaji

A Mumbai street-food dish of mashed, spiced mixed-vegetable curry served with a buttered soft bread roll.

700pts

4

Masala Dosa

A crisp South Indian crepe of fermented rice-and-lentil batter, folded around a spiced potato filling.

577pts

5

Gulab Jamun

Deep-fried milk-solid dumplings soaked in a rose- and cardamom-scented sugar syrup, a staple Indian dessert.

500pts

6

Idli Sambar

Steamed fermented rice-and-lentil cakes served with a tangy, spiced lentil-and-vegetable soup, a South Indian breakfast staple.

409pts

7

Samosa

A deep-fried pastry triangle stuffed with spiced potatoes, peas, and sometimes minced meat, sold across every Indian street corner.

409pts

8

Dal Makhani

A Punjabi dish of black lentils and kidney beans slow-simmered overnight with butter and cream.

300pts

9

Goan Vindaloo

A fiery Goan pork curry rooted in a Portuguese wine-and-garlic marinade, adapted with local chilies and vinegar.

300pts

10

Chicken Tikka Masala

Grilled marinated chicken pieces in a spiced, creamy tomato gravy, one of the most-ordered curries outside India.

300pts

11

Palak Paneer

A North Indian curry of cubed paneer cheese in a smooth spiced spinach puree.

300pts

12

Chole Bhature

A Punjabi street-food staple pairing spiced chickpea curry with deep-fried, pillowy leavened bread.

300pts

13

Pani Puri

Hollow, crisp puris filled with spiced potato, chickpeas, and tangy tamarind-mint water, eaten in one bite as a beloved street snack.

300pts

14

Rogan Josh

A Kashmiri lamb curry known for its deep red color from dried Kashmiri chilies and its aromatic, slow-braised sauce.

167pts