Visiting an Indian restaurant St Louis for the first time can be exciting, but a large menu can also make choosing your meal a little overwhelming. With curries, biryani, naan, kababs, tandoori dishes, vegetarian specialties, and desserts, there are plenty of flavors to explore.
If you are looking for Indian food St Louis, knowing what to order can help you build a meal that suits your taste and gives you a better introduction to Indian cuisine.
Whether you prefer creamy curries, grilled dishes, aromatic rice, or vegetarian specialties, there is something for almost every type of diner.
Start With an Indian Appetizer
A good way to begin your meal is with a traditional Indian appetizer.
Samosas are one of the most familiar choices. These crispy pastries are typically filled with seasoned potatoes and peas and are served with chutneys for dipping.
Pakoras are another popular option. Vegetables or other ingredients are coated in a seasoned batter and fried until crisp.
If you are dining with a group, ordering a few appetizers to share is a great way to try different flavors before moving on to the main course.
Try Chicken Tikka Masala
For diners who enjoy creamy, flavorful dishes, chicken tikka masala is an excellent choice.
Chicken pieces are traditionally marinated and cooked before being served in a rich tomato-based sauce flavored with Indian spices. The combination of tender chicken, creamy sauce, and aromatic seasoning makes it one of the most approachable dishes for people who are new to Indian cuisine.
If you are searching for chicken tikka masala St Louis, this is a dish worth putting near the top of your list.
At House of India, chicken tikka masala is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes, prepared with chicken tikka in a creamy tomato sauce and hand-ground spices.
Explore Tandoori and Grilled Dishes
If you prefer grilled food rather than curry, look for dishes prepared in a traditional tandoor.
Tandoori chicken St Louis diners often choose is marinated in yogurt and spices before being cooked at high heat. The result is tender meat with an aromatic seasoning and a distinctive grilled character.
Other tandoori options can include chicken tikka, seekh kabab, lamb preparations, and mixed grills.
These dishes are especially good when you want something flavorful without a heavy sauce.
Add Naan to Your Meal
Indian food and naan are a natural combination.
Naan is a soft, oven-baked Indian bread that works particularly well with curries. You can tear off a piece and use it to scoop up flavorful sauces, making it an enjoyable part of the meal rather than simply another side.
Garlic naan is a popular choice for diners who want additional flavor, while plain naan works well when you want the bread to complement the main dish.
Don’t Overlook Biryani
Biryani is another excellent choice when visiting an Indian restaurant St Louis diners can enjoy.
Unlike plain rice, biryani is prepared with fragrant basmati rice, spices, and ingredients such as chicken, lamb, shrimp, or vegetables.
It can be enjoyed as a complete meal or shared with other dishes.
House of India’s Nawabi Biryani combines basmati rice with shrimp, lamb, chicken, vegetables, spices, and nuts, making it a particularly substantial option for diners who want several flavors in one dish.
Vegetarian Indian Food Offers Plenty of Variety
You do not need to eat meat to enjoy a satisfying Indian meal.
Indian cuisine includes a wide range of vegetarian dishes featuring paneer, lentils, chickpeas, spinach, potatoes, mixed vegetables, and other ingredients.
Paneer dishes are especially popular because the mild cheese works well with rich sauces and aromatic spices.
If you are dining with a group, including at least one vegetarian dish is also an easy way to make the meal more flexible for everyone.
How to Build a Balanced Indian Meal
If you are not sure what to order, try building your meal around different textures and flavors.
For example, you might choose:
- One appetizer to share
- One creamy curry
- One grilled or tandoori dish
- Basmati rice or biryani
- Naan
- A vegetarian dish
- A traditional Indian dessert
This gives everyone at the table an opportunity to try something different.
You can also ask the restaurant about spice levels if you are not accustomed to Indian food.
What Should You Order for Two People?
For two diners, sharing is often the best way to explore an Indian menu.
Consider choosing one appetizer, one curry, one tandoori dish, rice, and naan. You can share the dishes rather than ordering a separate entrée for each person.
This approach allows you to experience different flavors without ordering too much of one type of food.
What Should You Order for a Group?
For a larger group, variety becomes even more important.
Choose several dishes across different categories rather than ordering five similar curries.
A group meal could include appetizers, chicken, lamb or seafood, vegetarian dishes, rice, naan, and desserts.
This creates a more complete dining experience and gives guests with different preferences plenty of choices.
Finding an Indian Restaurant in St. Louis
When choosing an Indian restaurant St Louis, look for a menu that offers variety, traditional preparation, vegetarian choices, grilled dishes, rice specialties, and desserts.
Experience matters too. A restaurant that has been serving its local community for many years can provide consistency as well as familiarity with the tastes and preferences of local diners.
House of India has served Indian and South Asian cuisine in St. Louis for more than 30 years and offers dine-in, catering, and online ordering.
Enjoy Indian Food Your Way
There is no single right way to order Indian food.
You might prefer a mild and creamy chicken curry, a spicy lamb dish, smoky tandoori chicken St Louis, fragrant biryani, or a completely vegetarian meal.
The best part of visiting an Indian restaurant is having the opportunity to explore.
If you are looking for Indian food St Louis, take your time, order a few dishes to share, and try something you have never had before.
That may be how you discover your next favorite Indian dish.
