There’s some exceptional Indian restaurants in Galway City and across the wider county.
The Galway restaurant scene is bustling with flavour, and there are several eateries specialising in Indian food in Galway that are cooking up a storm!
In this guide, we’ll take you to a mix of old and new – and there’s plenty to choose from!
Our favourite Indian restaurants in Galway City
Finding good Indian food in Galway has gotten easier and easier in recent years, thanks to many ‘old favourites’ and several new arrivals.
Below, you’ll find everywhere from Spiced Barna and Oran Tandoori to some of the lesser-known Indian restaurants in Galway.
1. Spiced Barna
Located just outside of Galway City in Barna, Spiced Barna is an Asian fusion restaurant with a menu that really zings.
The vibe is contemporary but not too edgy, it’s seductive and intimate with polished timber floors, reclaimed timber tables with comfortable high-backed chairs.
The lighting won’t blind you, with just the right amount of brilliance to highlight the food.
Check out their traditional and authentic Indian menu. There are lots to choose from, including jal frezi, rogan josh, madras, and chicken tikka karahi.
The biryani is available in many styles and is a good choice for new or unsure diners. This is, in our opinion, one of the best Indian restaurants in Galway for good reason.
2. Oran Tandoori
Although technically outside Galway City in Oranmore, just to the east, it’s worth the short drive over to Oran Tandoori.
Step inside, and you’ll be swept away by Oran’s elegance – red velvet-backed ornate dining chairs, delicate cream-coloured walls, and tables dressed in crisp white linens.
The menu is filled with delicious options, and if you’re vegetarian, you’d be wise to sample the vegetable pakoras or even the vegetable kebab.
For others, the chicken chat, lamb sheek kebab, and prawn poori are all delicious and packed with authentic flavours.
If time’s on your side, and you’re in Galway on a Sunday, definitely head in for the buffet. You’ll be happy you did!
3. Nokshi Indian
Northwest of Galway, along the N59, Nokshi sits just off the main road through Moycullen.
It’s a large restaurant with brilliant blue velvet-covered ornate chairs, rich ruby-red carpet, exposed pale stonework, and subtle golden lamps for a more intimate feeling.
Be sure to try the traditional clay-oven baked mackerel or the crab claws that are grilled on a skewer in the clay oven.
Both are delicious and are a speciality of Nokshi, as are the prawn puri and the lamb boti kebab, which is marinated overnight in spices, yoghurt and papaya.
4. Kashmir Restaurant
Luxuriously decorated, Kashmir Restaurant is swathed in fine fabrics, decadent dark timber tables and chairs and long-stemmed wine glasses.
You’ll be spoilt for choice on what to eat, and if you’re dining with a partner, it’s definitely worth considering the set menu for two, as it also comes with a bottle of house wine.
The onion bhaji is a handy and tasty way to start your meal, and why not sample some samosas too? The rest you’ll have to discover for yourself!
5. Kumar’s Taste of Asia
Funky and friendly, Kumar’s is a fun place with a super-relaxed vibe that will set you at ease. It’s light and airy, with an eclectic choice of colours, fabrics, and wall hangings and decorations.
There’s so much to take in, it could take all night. So it’s probably just as well then that there’s no shortage of delicious food to tuck into!
Start with a selection of vegetable or meat samosas and pakoras, or maybe share a mixed platter so you can try a little bit of everything.
When it comes to the main event, you’ll definitely want to try the chicken dansak.
6. Eastern Tandoori
Located near the Spanish Arch in Galway City, Eastern Tandoori is a moody and intimate restaurant with purple velvet-covered bench seating and ornate chairs, illuminated niches with ornate statues, and dark timber tables with long-stemmed wine glasses; this restaurant is definitely the place to go if you want to impress.
It’s the lamb boti kebab, chicken shaslik kebab, or even the sea bass that you’ll want to start your dining experience with, as they’re all packed full of flavour after being marinated and cooked over charcoal.
For vegetarians, go for the vegetable biryani, packed with aromatic saffron. It’s a delight!
7. Tulsi
Colourful and minimalist, Tulsi is understated and relaxed. The ambience isn’t going to be in your face, it’s all about the food here, not the decorations.
The tables are adorned in a traditional setting, but the walls are colourful, as are the seats.
Not to detract from the feast that will soon appear before you, Tulsi’s menu is extensive and offers great value for groups to share dishes.
Most of the menu items are available in a choice of meats, so pick your sauce and meat and get stuck in. Try the masala with prawns, tikka bhuna with lamb for a change, maybe some rogan josh chicken, or lamb dupeasa.
What great places for Indian food in Galway have we missed?
I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant Indian restaurants in Galway City from the guide above.
If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out! Or, nip into one of our many other Galway food guides:
- 10 Of The Best Places For Breakfast And Brunch In Galway
- 10 Places Pouring The Best Cocktails In Galway
- 10 Places Dishing Up The Best Pizza In Galway City And Beyond
- 10 Of The Best Seafood Restaurants In Galway
- The Best Lunch In Galway City: 12 Tasty Spots To Try
- 9 Of The Best Italian Restaurants In Galway
- 7 Best Places To Eat In Galway For Sushi
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.