which is the best restaurant in indore?

depends on what you want. for fine dining, shreemaya celebration on rnt marg. for mughlai and biryani, nafees restaurant. for the iconic indore experience, johny hot dog at chappan dukan. for thali, shreemaya or hotel & restaurant apna avenue. if forced to pick one overall, nafees for its decades of consistency.

best non veg restaurant in indore?

nafees restaurant for biryani and kebabs, hotel & restaurant apna avenue for mughlai, zayaka for tandoori, and young tarang for a mix of north indian non-veg. for street-level non-veg, the egg benjo stalls across the city and the seekh kebab vendors at sarafa bazaar.

best vegetarian restaurant in indore?

shreemaya celebration for premium thali, apna sweets for casual vegetarian and snacks, guru kripa for south indian, and mr beans for a cafe-style veg menu. indore's street food scene is heavily vegetarian too, so chappan dukan and sarafa bazaar are essentially massive veg restaurants.

cheapest good restaurants in indore?

johny hot dog (rs 100-200 for two), vijay chat house (rs 80-150), guru kripa (rs 300-500), apna sweets (rs 100-200), and young tarang (rs 400-600). for even cheaper, the egg benjo stalls, poha stands, and sarafa bazaar where you can eat well for under rs 200 for two.

best restaurant in indore for couples?

shreemaya celebration for upscale dining, cafe jeera for a casual cafe date, mr beans for the quirky vibe, and sayaji hotel's restaurants for the hotel dining experience. indore isn't really known for romantic dining the way pune or bangalore are — the culture is more group eating and family outings.

best restaurants in indore (2026)

tldr: top picks from 20 restaurants — nafees (best mughlai, decades old, rs 800-1200), shreemaya celebration (best thali and fine dining, rs 1000-1800), johny hot dog (legendary since 1935, rs 100-200), and guru kripa (best value all-rounder, rs 300-500). this is a research-backed guide. no sponsored reviews. full list with prices and honest opinions below.

indore’s restaurant scene is strange in the best way. this is a city where a hot dog cart from 1935 is more famous than any five-star restaurant. where a sweet shop is a genuine dining destination. where “going out to eat” often means standing at a stall in sarafa bazaar at 11 pm.

i haven’t eaten at all 20 of these places myself. this is a research-backed guide — compiled from hundreds of google and zomato reviews, reddit threads, food blogs from people who actually live in indore, and recommendations from friends with indore connections. i’m not going to pretend otherwise. that’s not how i do things.

the restaurant scene here is a mix of multi-generational institutions (nafees, johny hot dog, joshi dahi bade), reliable chains (apna sweets, guru kripa), and newer spots trying to modernize indore’s food culture. here’s what’s actually worth your time and money.

the awards (my picks)

best overall: nafees restaurant - decades of consistency in biryani and kebabs
best fine dining: shreemaya celebration, rnt marg - the closest thing to upscale indore gets
best legendary spot: johny hot dog, chappan dukan - a 1935 institution
best thali: shreemaya celebration - proper malwi thali experience
best biryani: nafees restaurant - the benchmark in indore
best south indian: guru kripa, race course road - dosa and idli done right
best snacks/namkeen: apna sweets - the go-to for indore’s famous namkeen
best budget eat: vijay chat house, chappan dukan - rs 80-150 and you’re full
best cafe restaurant: mr beans - quirky, vegetarian, decent food
best kebabs: nafees restaurant - seekh kebab is legendary
best for groups: town kitchen - space, variety, reasonable prices

the full list

#	restaurant	area	cuisine	cost for two	rating
1	nafees restaurant	sapna sangeeta / multiple	mughlai, biryani	rs 800-1200	9/10
2	shreemaya celebration	rnt marg	thali, north indian	rs 1000-1800	9/10
3	johny hot dog	chappan dukan	hot dogs	rs 100-200	9.5/10
4	apna sweets	multiple	snacks, sweets, namkeen	rs 100-200	8.5/10
5	vijay chat house	chappan dukan	chaat, tikki	rs 80-150	9/10
6	joshi dahi bade house	sarafa bazaar	dahi bade, patties	rs 100-150	9.5/10
7	guru kripa	race course road	south indian, chaat	rs 300-500	8/10
8	mr beans	vijay nagar	cafe, veg	rs 500-800	7.5/10
9	town kitchen	sapna sangeeta	north indian, chinese	rs 600-900	7.5/10
10	young tarang	multiple	north indian, chinese	rs 400-600	7.5/10
11	zayaka restaurant	palasia	north indian, tandoori	rs 600-1000	8/10
12	hotel & restaurant apna avenue	rnt marg	mughlai, north indian	rs 500-800	8/10
13	sayaji hotel - kebabsville	vijay nagar	kebabs, north indian	rs 1200-1800	8/10
14	bhagaratmal sweet shop	sarafa bazaar	sweets, jalebi	rs 60-100	9/10
15	sawariya	sarafa bazaar	malpua, rabdi	rs 80-120	9/10
16	shree guruji	rajwada	poha, namkeen	rs 60-100	8.5/10
17	crazzy burger	chappan dukan	burgers, sandwiches	rs 200-400	7/10
18	pandit ji ki chaat	new palasia	chaat	rs 80-150	8/10
19	meghdoot garden restaurant	rnt marg	north indian, chinese	rs 600-1000	7.5/10
20	celebration restaurant	rnt marg	multi-cuisine	rs 800-1200	8/10

prices approximate as of early 2026. gst extra at sit-down restaurants.

the institutions (decades old, still legendary)

1. nafees restaurant

sapna sangeeta road / multiple locations / rs 800-1200 for two / 9/10

nafees is to indore what peter cat is to kolkata — an institution that’s been around for so long it’s part of the city’s identity. established decades ago, it’s consistently rated as the best restaurant in indore for mughlai food. the chicken biryani, seekh kebab, and mutton korma are what people come for, and from what i’ve gathered, these dishes have maintained their quality across generations.

the restaurant also runs a bakery that’s famous across indore for its biscuits, cakes, and patties. locals talk about nafees bakery biscuits the way delhi people talk about old delhi parathas — with genuine nostalgia and loyalty.

multiple locations exist now, but reviewers consistently say the sapna sangeeta road branch is the original and the best.

what to order: chicken biryani, seekh kebab, mutton korma, bakery biscuits.

the catch: service can be slow during peak hours. the interiors aren’t fancy — you’re paying for food quality, not ambience. weekends get very crowded.

2. johny hot dog

chappan dukan / rs 100-200 for two / 9.5/10

i covered this in the indore food guide but it deserves a spot here too. a hot dog cart running since 1935. ninety-one years. the stall has been passed through generations and is now arguably the most famous street food vendor in central india.

it’s not a restaurant in any traditional sense — it’s a cart with a counter. but the food has earned it a place on every “best of indore” list ever made. the signature sauce is what makes it. reviewers describe it as tangy, slightly sweet, perfectly spiced, and impossible to replicate at home.

what to order: classic hot dog, cheese hot dog.

the catch: it’s a stall, not a restaurant. no seating. you eat standing. lines can be 20-30 minutes long on weekends.

3. joshi dahi bade house

sarafa bazaar / rs 100-150 for two / 9.5/10

the most famous stall in sarafa bazaar. joshi dahi bade house has been serving dahi bade (lentil fritters in spiced yoghurt) for generations, and it’s the first recommendation you’ll get from any indore local when you mention sarafa bazaar.

the dahi bade here are soft, perfectly soaked, and the combination of sweet and spicy chutneys is what sets them apart. the khopra patties (coconut-filled fried patties) are the other star item — crispy, sweet, and addictive according to virtually every review.

what to order: dahi bade, khopra patties, aloo tikki.

the catch: only open evenings/nights. you’re eating at a stall in a bazaar, not a restaurant. goes extremely crowded by 10 pm.

the reliable mid-range spots

4. shreemaya celebration

rnt marg / rs 1000-1800 for two / 9/10

the closest thing indore has to a proper fine dining restaurant with local flavour. shreemaya celebration is known for its thali — specifically the malwi thali that features dishes from the malwa region (which includes indore). it’s a sit-down, air-conditioned restaurant with proper service, which is a contrast to the stall-based eating that dominates indore’s food culture.

their thali includes regional specialties like dal bafla, bhutte ka kees, poha, and several subzis you won’t find in a standard north indian thali. reviewers consistently praise the variety and the quality.

the hotel also has a multi-cuisine restaurant for those who want continental or chinese options.

what to order: malwi thali, dal bafla, bhutte ka kees.

the catch: pricey by indore standards. the experience is more “hotel restaurant” than “authentic indore” — you’re paying for comfort and service, not street food energy.

5. guru kripa

race course road / rs 300-500 for two / 8/10

guru kripa is the reliable all-rounder. south indian dosa and idli, north indian chaat, snacks, and a general menu that covers most bases. it’s not spectacular at anything, but it’s good at everything. reviewers consistently mention the masala dosa, pav bhaji, and chaat as the standouts.

it’s the kind of place where families go on weekday evenings. nothing fancy, consistently decent, reasonably priced. think of it as indore’s version of an udipi restaurant — reliable, fast, and budget-friendly.

what to order: masala dosa, pav bhaji, chaat.

the catch: nothing about guru kripa is “wow.” it’s reliably good but never exciting. if you’re visiting indore for the food, there are more interesting places to prioritize.

6. apna sweets

multiple locations / rs 100-200 for two / 8.5/10

apna sweets is a chain that’s become an indore institution. they do namkeen (indore is the namkeen capital of india — ratlam sev originated here), sweets, poha, and snacks. it’s a legit breakfast and snack destination, not just a sweet shop.

the poha here is reliable — a safe choice if you don’t want to hunt down a specific stall. the namkeen selection is massive, and locals buy from here in bulk when they travel out of indore to share with people in other cities. it’s that kind of place.

what to order: poha jalebi, namkeen variety box, soan papdi, samosa.

the catch: it’s a sweet shop chain, not a restaurant. limited seating in some locations. for an actual meal, look elsewhere.

7. zayaka restaurant

palasia / rs 600-1000 for two / 8/10

zayaka gets consistently good reviews for its tandoori items and north indian food. the chicken tikka, paneer tikka, and butter chicken are what people order. it’s a proper sit-down restaurant with decent interiors and air conditioning.

not a destination restaurant, but a reliable option for a proper meal when you’re tired of street food (if that’s even possible in indore).

what to order: chicken tikka, butter chicken, dal makhani.

8. hotel & restaurant apna avenue

rnt marg / rs 500-800 for two / 8/10

a solid mid-range restaurant that does mughlai and north indian food. the biryani here is often compared to nafees, though most locals will still give nafees the edge. good for a sit-down lunch or dinner without breaking the bank.

what to order: biryani, kebabs, butter chicken.

the newer and modern spots

9. mr beans

vijay nagar / rs 500-800 for two / 7.5/10

mr beans is one of the more popular “modern” restaurants in indore. it’s vegetarian, has a quirky interior design that younger crowds love, and serves a mix of continental, italian, and indian food. think pasta, pizza, paneer dishes, shakes, and desserts.

is it the best food in indore? no. but it’s a solid option for people who want a change from street food and traditional restaurants. the instagram crowd loves it.

what to order: pasta, shakes, paneer dishes.

10. town kitchen

sapna sangeeta / rs 600-900 for two / 7.5/10

town kitchen is a multi-cuisine restaurant that works well for groups. they do north indian, chinese, and continental, and nothing is bad. it’s the kind of place you go when a group of 6 can’t agree on what to eat.

good space, reasonable prices, reliable food. not exciting, but dependable.

what to order: whatever the group agrees on. the north indian menu is the strongest.

the sweet and snack legends

11. bhagaratmal sweet shop

sarafa bazaar / rs 60-100 for two / 9/10

one of the anchor shops at sarafa bazaar. bhagaratmal is famous for jalebi — thick, crispy, soaked in sugar syrup, served hot. they also do other sweets, but the jalebi is why people come. it’s the kind of jalebi that ruins all other jalebis for you.

what to order: jalebi. hot. fresh. that’s it.

12. sawariya

sarafa bazaar / rs 80-120 for two / 9/10

the malpua here is legendary. deep-fried sweet pancakes soaked in sugar syrup and topped with thick rabdi (condensed milk cream). sawariya has been at sarafa bazaar for years, and this is consistently named the best sweet at the market.

what to order: malpua with rabdi.

13. shree guruji

rajwada area / rs 60-100 for two / 8.5/10

a traditional namkeen and snack shop near rajwada. this is where locals go for authentic indore namkeen — sev, bhujia, mixture, chivda. they also do decent poha. if you want to buy namkeen as gifts (which is basically mandatory when leaving indore), this is a top option.

what to order: ratlam sev, namkeen mixture, poha.

the chaat and street-food-as-restaurant spots

14. vijay chat house

chappan dukan / rs 80-150 for two / 9/10

covered in the street food guide but deserves mention here. the chaat at vijay chat house is the standard by which all indore chaat is measured. tikki chaat, pani puri, bhel — all consistently excellent. the lines are always long, which tells you everything.

15. pandit ji ki chaat

new palasia / rs 80-150 for two / 8/10

a popular chaat spot outside the chappan dukan circuit. pandit ji ki chaat is known for its tikki chaat and pani puri. less crowded than vijay chat house, similar quality. a good alternative if you don’t want to deal with chappan dukan crowds.

practical tips

for first-time visitors: don’t try to eat at restaurants. indore’s magic is in its street food. start with sarafa bazaar and chappan dukan, then hit restaurants if you need a break from standing.

for the complete food experience: start with poha jalebi for breakfast, lunch at nafees or shreemaya, evening snacks at chappan dukan, and dinner at sarafa bazaar. that’s a perfect indore food day.

budgeting: you can eat at restaurants all day for rs 1500-2000 per person. or you can eat at street food spots all day for rs 300-500. the street food option is, frankly, better.

best restaurants in indore (2026) - honest reviews