The Indian community has done a lot more than give us Bollywood and Zee World; their cuisine is one of the most popular and widely-consumed in the world. Indian food is spice-rich, flavourful and versatile enough to cater to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian needs. And what the heck would global cuisine be without Biriyani and Butter Chicken?

If you’re not very familiar with the Indian food scene in Lagos and you’re wondering where to start, here’s a list of some of the best restaurants to try — from OGs to the relative newbies.

P.S.: Just for fun, I’ll be rating all the versions of Naan and Butter Chicken I had at these restaurants, as a general yardstick for how good their grub is.

SPICE ROUTE

where: 36 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island

Although they have a location in Lagos (of course), the first time I had their food was in Port-Harcourt, back then before Wike started fixing all the roads and causing traffic. Spice Route is Namaste that went to Harvard.

The ambience is very fancy and fine dining-esque and the food is delicious with generous portions. It’s definitely somewhere to take a friend or loved one to if you’d like them to experience Indian cuisine the first-class way.

Naan and Butter Chicken — 6.5/10

ZAIKA ILUPEJU

WHERE: 2 Obanle Aro Avenue, Coker Road Roundabout, Ilupeju

My memory of the discovery of this gem is blurry, but my recollection of the food remains distinct — for several reasons: It was well cooked, well flavoured and rich in whatever protein they indicated would be there. A friend was so hooked, she ordered their chicken shawarma and had it sent to Abuja.

Although they don’t have an active social media presence and seem to be more focused on catering to their Indian community, I’d definitely recommend Zaika, especially if you are on a budget. Of all the Indian restaurants I’ve explored both within and outside Lagos, it is the most affordable. N10k (pre-new naira notes) will comfortably feed one very hungry person or two people who ate Eba before going.

Slight downside: They have a very limited bar menu and unfortunately, the aesthetic is not the best, so don’t go in the hopes of taking peng pictures.

Naan and Butter Chicken — 8/10

RANGLA PUNJAB

where: 49 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island

My natural adventurous disposition took me here when I was looking for a good spot for a friend date. Their menu is pretty decent but if you’d like to try a variety of options, their Sunday Brunch is what you should be looking at.

One thing I like is that they have a lot of picturesque areas, so you can press necks on your Insta. You can also watch the food being prepared, so if that’s your thing or you want something nice for an occasion, why not? If I wanted to watch food being cooked, I’d binge on Food Network.

Naan and Butter Chicken — 5/10

CILANTRO

where: 7 Musa Yar' Adua Street, Victoria Island

Ed note: We reviewed Cilantro in 2021 and it was not a good one, but time has passed since then.

Another picture-perfect location 👌🏾 Cilantro will give you a great ambience and good food. They’re not just in Lagos, as well; they have another location in Abuja.

Something to note is that it’s slightly on the pricey side, although in my opinion, Cilantro offers good value for money and not just on their Indian menu, on others too. If you want a more chill vibe or visit with a group of friends, they also have a good outdoor space.

Naan and Butter Chicken — 7.5/10

Honourable mentions:

343 Degrees North

Gypsy’s

Pondicherri

Omotola Abudu is a Lawyer with an interest in technology and regulatory compliance. When she’s not lawyering, she enjoys travelling and foodie-ing, as long as it doesn’t involve washing up.