what is the best restaurant in bhubaneswar?

dalma is the best restaurant in bhubaneswar for odia food. it's an institution, serving authentic odia thalis with dalma (the dish the restaurant is named after), santula, besara, and fish preparations at rs 500 for two. for fine dining, tangerine at mayfair lagoon is the city's most upscale option at rs 2500 for two.

best seafood restaurant in bhubaneswar?

tangerine at mayfair lagoon has the best seafood in bhubaneswar in a fine dining setting. for more casual seafood, kebab gali in saheed nagar does good fish tikka and prawn preparations. silver spoon near jaydev vihar serves fresh seafood at mid-range prices. odisha is a coastal state, so most restaurants have at least basic fish preparations.

best restaurant for couples in bhubaneswar?

tangerine at mayfair lagoon is the best for a special dinner (rs 2500 for two). sholay in saheed nagar has good ambience with a rooftop section at rs 1200 for two. for something more casual but still date-friendly, the story cafe and restaurants in the jaydev vihar area offer modern settings.

best restaurants in bhubaneswar (2026)

Q: best odia food restaurant in bhubaneswar?

dalma and odisha hotel are the two best restaurants for authentic odia food in bhubaneswar. dalma serves traditional odia thalis with properly made dalma, besara, and pakhala. odisha hotel near master canteen square has been serving odia food for decades at very affordable prices (rs 300 for two). truptee is another strong option for odia thalis.

tldr: top picks from 15 restaurants - dalma (best odia food, iconic thali, rs 500 for two), tangerine at mayfair lagoon (best fine dining, rs 2500 for two), and odisha hotel (best budget odia food, rs 300 for two). bhubaneswar is an odia food paradise. full reviews with prices below.

bhubaneswar is quietly one of the best food cities in eastern india.

the city sits in a sweet spot. it’s the capital of odisha, a state with one of india’s most distinctive cuisines. it’s coastal enough to get fresh seafood daily. it has a temple food tradition (the jagannath temple mahaprasad is one of the world’s largest kitchen operations). and it has just enough modern development to support a growing restaurant scene without losing its traditional food identity.

what stands out about bhubaneswar from research is the dominance of odia cuisine. unlike many state capitals where the local food gets buried under north indian and chinese restaurants, bhubaneswar wears its odia food identity proudly. the most famous restaurants here serve odia thalis. the street food is distinctly odia. and even the modern restaurants incorporate local flavours and ingredients.

the seafood deserves special mention. odisha has a long coastline, and bhubaneswar, while not directly on the coast, gets fresh fish daily from puri, chilika, and the coastal towns. fish is a staple here, not a luxury, and even modest restaurants serve competent fish preparations.

these reviews are research-backed. prices are approximate for two people as of early 2026.

the awards (top picks)

best overall: dalma - the best odia food restaurant in bhubaneswar, period
best fine dining: tangerine, mayfair lagoon - seafood, multicuisine, five-star service
best odia thali: dalma - traditional, generous, authentic
best budget eat: odisha hotel, master canteen - decades-old odia food at throwaway prices
best seafood: tangerine, mayfair lagoon - fresh, well-prepared, premium
best non-veg (non-seafood): kebab gali, saheed nagar - kebabs and tandoori
best vegetarian: truptee, saheed nagar - pure-veg odia and south indian
best for families: hare krishna, nayapalli - vegetarian, spacious, consistent
best modern restaurant: sholay, saheed nagar - rooftop, multicuisine, good vibes
best value: zaika, rasulgarh - solid food at honest prices

the full list

#	restaurant	area	cuisine	cost for two	rating
1	dalma	saheed nagar	odia	rs 500	9/10
2	tangerine (mayfair lagoon)	jaydev vihar	multicuisine / seafood	rs 2500	9/10
3	odisha hotel	master canteen	odia	rs 300	8.5/10
4	truptee	saheed nagar	pure veg / odia / south indian	rs 450	8.5/10
5	hare krishna	nayapalli	pure veg / north indian	rs 500	8/10
6	sholay	saheed nagar	multicuisine / rooftop	rs 1200	8/10
7	kebab gali	saheed nagar	kebabs / mughlai / seafood	rs 800	8/10
8	zaika	rasulgarh	north indian / multicuisine	rs 600	7.5/10
9	silver spoon	jaydev vihar	seafood / multicuisine	rs 900	7.5/10
10	odisha rasoi	patia	odia thali	rs 400	8/10
11	barbecue pride	jaydev vihar	buffet / bbq	rs 1400	7/10
12	the clay oven	saheed nagar	north indian / tandoori	rs 1000	7.5/10
13	swosti premium	jaydev vihar	multicuisine	rs 1800	7.5/10
14	mirchi	patia	north indian / chinese	rs 600	7/10
15	maa tarini	nayapalli	odia home-style	rs 350	7.5/10

odia cuisine restaurants

this is where bhubaneswar is unbeatable. these restaurants serve authentic odia food, the kind of cooking that defines odisha’s food identity. for the deep dive on odia cuisine itself, see the odia cuisine guide.

1. dalma

saheed nagar / cost for two: rs 500 / 9/10

dalma is the restaurant that every food guide to bhubaneswar mentions first, and for good reason. named after the signature odia dish (a dal cooked with vegetables and coconut), dalma the restaurant is an institution in the truest sense.

the odia thali here is what draws people. it includes dalma (the dish), rice, a seasonal sabzi prepared in traditional odia style (usually with panch phoran tempering), besara (mustard-based vegetable curry), dahi (curd), papad, pickle, and a sweet. the portions are generous, the flavours are authentic, and the cooking techniques follow traditional methods.

the fish curry deserves special mention. bhubaneswar is close enough to the coast that fresh fish is a daily reality, and dalma’s fish preparations, particularly the machha besara (fish in mustard sauce), are consistently praised in reviews. the curry uses freshwater rohu or sea fish depending on availability, cooked in a mustard paste with turmeric and green chili.

what reviewers consistently say: authentic odia food, generous portions, clean restaurant, and reasonable prices. the restaurant is busy during lunch (1-2 pm) and dinner (8-9 pm), so expect a wait during peak hours.

the catch: the interiors are functional, not fancy. if you’re looking for fine dining presentation, this isn’t it. the air conditioning can struggle during summer. the lunch thali sells out sometimes.

verdict: the best odia food restaurant in bhubaneswar. this is where you come to understand what odia cuisine tastes like at its most authentic. essential eating.

2. odisha hotel

master canteen square / cost for two: rs 300 / 8.5/10

odisha hotel is one of the oldest restaurants in bhubaneswar and possibly the most beloved. located near master canteen square, one of the city’s busiest intersections, it’s been serving odia food at prices that seem immune to inflation.

the menu is straightforward odia home-style cooking. rice, dal, fish curry, vegetable sabzi, and accompaniments. the fish curry (machha jhol) is the star, simple, well-spiced, and made with fresh fish. the pakhala (fermented rice water) is available during summer months and is apparently excellent.

everything about odisha hotel screams “no-nonsense.” basic furniture, quick service, small portions by fine dining standards but generous by per-rupee standards, and food that tastes like it was made in someone’s home kitchen.

what stands out: the price. rs 300 for two with fish curry, rice, dal, and sabzi at a restaurant that’s been serving since before most bhubaneswar restaurants existed. that’s the kind of value that builds institutions.

the catch: the space is small and crowded. no air conditioning (or limited AC). the ambience is zero. you’re here for the food and only the food.

verdict: the best budget odia food in bhubaneswar. if dalma is the odia food restaurant you take visitors to, odisha hotel is the one locals eat at when nobody’s watching.

3. truptee

saheed nagar / cost for two: rs 450 / 8.5/10

truptee is a pure-vegetarian restaurant that serves odia food alongside south indian options. for a vegetarian restaurant, it has a surprisingly good thali that includes odia preparations like dalma, santula (mixed vegetable dry preparation), and besara without fish.

the south indian menu is solid too. the dosas are crispy, the idli-sambar is reliable, and the filter coffee is decent. truptee is the kind of restaurant that vegetarians in bhubaneswar default to, it covers multiple cuisines well and never disappoints.

what stands out: it proves that odia cuisine has a strong vegetarian tradition beyond just removing the fish. the odia veg thali here is complete and satisfying.

verdict: the best vegetarian restaurant in bhubaneswar. reliable for both odia and south indian food.

4. odisha rasoi

patia / cost for two: rs 400 / 8/10

odisha rasoi is a newer restaurant that takes a more curated approach to odia food. while dalma and odisha hotel serve traditional odia food in traditional settings, odisha rasoi attempts to present odia cuisine in a slightly more modern, aesthetically conscious environment.

the thali includes classic odia preparations with better plating than you’d find at the older establishments. the sweet selection includes chhena-based desserts made in-house.

verdict: a good option if you want odia food with slightly more polished presentation.

5. maa tarini

nayapalli / cost for two: rs 350 / 7.5/10

maa tarini serves home-style odia food in a modest setting. the cooking is simple, honest, and close to what odia families cook at home. the portions are generous, the prices are low, and the regulars are neighbourhood residents who come for daily meals.

verdict: good local odia food for everyday eating in the nayapalli area.

fine dining / premium

6. tangerine at mayfair lagoon

jaydev vihar / cost for two: rs 2500 / 9/10

tangerine is bhubaneswar’s finest restaurant by most measures. located inside mayfair lagoon, one of the city’s top luxury hotels, it offers a multicuisine menu with a strong seafood focus.

the setting is what you’d expect from a five-star hotel restaurant, polished interiors, professional service, and a menu that covers north indian, continental, chinese, and local odia preparations. the seafood here benefits from odisha’s coastal proximity. fresh prawns, pomfret, and crab preparations are the highlights, cooked in styles ranging from tandoori to odia besara.

what reviewers consistently mention: the seafood is genuinely fresh, the service is attentive without being intrusive, and the presentation is a step above anything else in the city. the poolside setting at mayfair lagoon adds to the experience, especially for dinner.

the catch: it’s the most expensive restaurant in bhubaneswar. the pricing is five-star hotel pricing in a city where most restaurants are under rs 600 for two. worth it for special occasions, but not everyday eating.

verdict: the best fine dining restaurant in bhubaneswar. the only place in the city where the food, service, and setting all match five-star standards.

7. swosti premium

jaydev vihar / cost for two: rs 1800 / 7.5/10

swosti is a well-known hotel brand in odisha, and their premium outlet in jaydev vihar offers a solid multicuisine experience. the food is reliable, the interiors are well-maintained, and the service follows hotel standards. not as special as tangerine, but a more affordable fine dining option.

multicuisine / modern

8. sholay

saheed nagar / cost for two: rs 1200 / 8/10

sholay is one of bhubaneswar’s most popular modern restaurants. it has a rooftop section, a bar, and a menu that covers north indian, chinese, and continental food. the vibe is younger and more casual than the hotel restaurants.

the kebabs and tandoori items are the strongest part of the menu. the rooftop section is popular in the evenings, especially during winter months when bhubaneswar’s weather is pleasant. the bar menu is well-stocked.

what stands out: it’s the best “going out” restaurant in bhubaneswar. the rooftop, the food, the drinks, and the crowd make it the closest thing the city has to a nightlife-adjacent dining experience.

the catch: can get very crowded on weekends. the noise level goes up as the evening progresses. food quality can dip when the kitchen is slammed.

verdict: the best restaurant in bhubaneswar for a night out. good food, good drinks, good vibes.

9. kebab gali

saheed nagar / cost for two: rs 800 / 8/10

kebab gali specializes in, predictably, kebabs. but they also do good fish tikka, prawn preparations, and general north indian non-veg food. the seekh kebabs are reportedly excellent, well-spiced and properly charred. the fish tikka uses local fresh fish, which makes a noticeable difference.

what stands out: the combination of kebabs and fresh seafood at reasonable prices. for non-veg food that isn’t odia-style, this is the best option.

verdict: the best kebab restaurant in bhubaneswar, with surprisingly good seafood.

10. silver spoon

jaydev vihar / cost for two: rs 900 / 7.5/10

silver spoon is a mid-range multicuisine restaurant near jaydev vihar that does competent food across categories. the seafood is good (proximity to the coast helps), the north indian options are reliable, and the chinese food is above average for a non-specialist restaurant.

verdict: a solid all-rounder in the jaydev vihar area.

11. the clay oven

saheed nagar / cost for two: rs 1000 / 7.5/10

the clay oven focuses on north indian and tandoori food. the tandoor items, naan, chicken tikka, paneer tikka, are well-executed. the biryanis are decent. it’s a reliable option for when you want north indian food specifically.

verdict: good north indian restaurant, predictable quality.

vegetarian / family

12. hare krishna

nayapalli / cost for two: rs 500 / 8/10

hare krishna is a pure-vegetarian restaurant that’s popular with families. the menu covers north indian, south indian, and chaat. the food is clean, well-prepared, and safe, no experiments, just solid vegetarian cooking.

the restaurant is spacious and family-friendly, which matters in bhubaneswar where most popular restaurants are cramped. the chaat counter is popular, especially the pani puri and dahi bhalla.

verdict: the best family-friendly vegetarian restaurant in bhubaneswar.

13. zaika

rasulgarh / cost for two: rs 600 / 7.5/10

zaika is a mid-range restaurant near rasulgarh that serves north indian and multicuisine food at honest prices. the food is consistent, the portions are good, and it’s a reliable option in an area where dining choices are limited.

verdict: good value restaurant in the rasulgarh area.

14. barbecue pride

jaydev vihar / cost for two: rs 1400 / 7/10

bhubaneswar’s answer to barbeque nation. live grill, unlimited buffet, group dining. the concept works for celebrations and group outings. the food quality is standard buffet level, neither great nor bad.

15. mirchi

patia / cost for two: rs 600 / 7/10

mirchi serves north indian and chinese food near the patia tech hub area. it’s popular with IT professionals working in the infocity area. the food is adequate, the prices are fair, and the location is convenient for the tech crowd.

best restaurants in bhubaneswar (2026) - reviews