Best Indian Restaurants in Canterbury
The best Indian restaurants in Canterbury, from Odia tasting menus on Beer Cart Lane to a curry house in a 15th-century building and the takeaways along Northgate. This list covers Indian and Kashmiri kitchens where you can sit down for a meal, plus a few that focus on collection and delivery for nights in. Places are ranked using their Google rating weighted by how many reviews they have. Student tip: Sekkoya’s own website lists a student discount on selected days with valid student ID, so keep your card handy.
- 7 places, ranked by Google rating
- Open places only, checked every month
- Website and Google Maps for each
- 1
The Cook's Tale Restaurant
The Cook's Tale on Beer Cart Lane cooks contemporary Odia food from Odisha in eastern India, using ingredients like mustard oil, tamarind and jaggery alongside Kentish produce. Go for the bottomless thali, or save the Odia tasting menu for when someone else is paying. It also runs cookery classes, if you fancy learning the tricks yourself.
- 2
Sekkoya
Sekkoya is an Indian kitchen and bar on St Peter's Street, a short stroll from Westgate Towers. The menu leans on family cooking, including Shaku's butter chicken made from Mum's original recipe, and there are signature cocktails too. Its own website lists a student discount from Sunday to Thursday with valid student ID, perfect for birthday dinners.
- 3
The Ancient Raj
The Ancient Raj serves Indian food inside a partially restored 15th-century Grade II listed building on North Lane, opened by the Lord Mayor in 2002. Booking is wise at busy times, especially for bigger groups. There's a good choice of vegan dishes, and you can order takeaway online for collection or delivery around Canterbury.
- 4
Spice Spree Indian Restaurant and Takeaway
Spice Spree is a halal restaurant and takeaway on Northgate cooking Indian and Pakistani food. Book a table and eat in, or order online for collection or delivery, and its FAQ says you can even pay cash on delivery. Handy when the group order is a mix of card and cash and nobody wants to do the maths.
- 5
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an Indian takeaway on Northgate rather than a sit-down restaurant, so this one's for nights in. Its online menu runs through tandoori dishes, jalfrezi, korai, balti and biryani, plus set meals that take the stress out of ordering for the house. Choose collection or delivery when you order through its website.
- 6
Masala Gate Indian Takeaway
Masala Gate is an Indian takeaway on Northgate, and you order on its own website for collection or delivery. Set meals for one or two help when you can't face a long menu, and the house specials are split into mild, medium and hot, so everyone in the flat can pick their heat level.
- 7
Kashmir Tandoori Indian Restaurant
Kashmir Tandoori on Palace Street is a restaurant and takeaway serving Kashmiri and Indian dishes from the clay tandoor, with balti a speciality. The menu covers rogan josh, jalfrezi, lamb korai and Peshwari chicken. Book a table to eat in, or order online or through Just Eat when the essay deadline wins.
Ranked by Google rating, weighted by the number of reviews so a place with a handful of five-star reviews does not jump the queue. We check the list every month and drop anywhere that has closed.
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