The most enjoyable way to learn more about the Indian culture is through a gastronomic journey of Indian food. Indian food is a very large term and encompasses 3000 years of culinary civilization.
It is wide ranging in its diversity and has been the literal melting pot influenced by the tastes and flavors of the visitors, friendly and otherwise, over the millennia to the Indian sub continent. It is now characterized by its sophisticated and subtle use of many spices and vegetables grown across India and also for the widespread practice of vegetarianism across its society. Each family of this cuisine is has a wide assortment of dishes and cooking techniques. As a consequence, Indian cuisine varies from region to region, reflecting the varied demographics of the ethnically diverse Indian subcontinent.
The Indian sub continent from the Himalayan Mountains in the North to tropical coasts in the south lead to an astonishing range in local produce and this has led to wheat being the staple in the North and Rice in the South. Hot naan breads and pieces marinated chicken simmered in a tandoor or a clay oven and curries rich in cream and spices synonymous today with Indian food in general. In a country as large and diverse as India, tandoori food is initially from a tiny area in the northwestern plains of the sub continent. Over a period of just half a century the name and fame of tandoori food has managed to capture the imagination of the whole world as it is the humble folk from this region who flanked out into different corners of the globe in search of a better income. Many of them started to earn a living by opening Indian restaurants.
Today more than a dozen Indian restaurants are scattered all over the city, some of them equipped with excellent kitchens. However eating outside the home is a very recent activity amongst Indians. Even today getting together to eat primarily means keeping in touch with the community and family. That is why many restaurants here offer generous accommodation for private parties as well, including Queen’s Tandoor, Ganesha, D’Bollywood, Royal Kitchen, Babooji, Bambaiya, Kinara and Le’Mint.
D’Bollywood is fast becoming a party place with regular live entertainment by well known local Indian DJ’s, Bands and singers. As Firdos, the force behind this restaurant puts it ‘ D’ Bollywood is not just a restaurant, or a bar, it’s nothing like a club, not your fine dining place, but a friendly, warm place with entertainment, good food, a well stocked bar, a unique balcony ambiance… all with a homely touch’.
The best way to order an Indian meal is to offer a dish to each guest and then to share it all with everyone present. Vegetarians have much to choose from: tomato or spinach soups; baked cauliflower and potatoes eaten with lentils; bread or plain rice with kulfi; or Indian ice cream, which tops the list of dessert favorites. A stuffed paratha, (bread filled with potatoes and lightly fried in oil) for example is a meal in itself. And the best ones are found at the Taj Mahal in Pasar Baru.
Ganesha Ek Sanskriti, is a fine dining authentic Indian Restaurant and Bar operating at two locations. Both restaurants are done very beautifully with very ethnic ambiance. Ganesha offers a wide variety of North Indian curry and tandoori foods with a selection of non-vegetarian and vegetarian items and distinguishes itself for its authentic taste, rigorous quality levels, dietary care in use of fat products and hygiene. Being a dietitian by training, Shilpa Dave, Ganesha’s founder-owner can be seen very regularly doing rounds of its kitchens in BRI and Kemang. This is a very popular venue for parties and their catering is very good.
Ganesha now has 22 branches across Indonesia.
Queen’s Tandoor is one of the oldest Indian restaurants in town and very popular with the local ethnic Indian community and has a wider appeal with it Chinese-Indian fusion cuisine. It offers a large variety of Indian cuisine and even the south Indian dosa. Their signature dish is the Raan E Bahaar a succulent leg of lamb is simply mouth-watering and mildly spiced, Jaffran Prawn or the saffron prawns, Lasooni Palak a wonderful spinach and garlic dish and the Herb Naan to eat it all with. The restaurant’s belief of serving nothing but fresh ingredients and natural seasoning, it has proven to be a healthier choice while not compromising on taste. The restaurant provides a great venue for functions with its ample space. Queens Tandoor has outlets in Jakarta, Bali, Singapore, Manila and Dubai.
(updated October 2025)
- Ganesha Ek Sanskriti (BRI II Building)
901, Gedung BRI II, Center Park, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman No.Kav 44-46 Lantai 9, Bend. Hilir, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10210
6282113113764
www.ganeshaeksanskriti.com - Ganesha Ek Sanskriti (Kemang)
Jl. Kemang Raya No 5 Kemang Square, Lantai 2, RT.14/RW.1, Bangka, Kec. Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12730
6281385611452
www.ganeshaeksanskriti.com - Ganesha Ek Sanskriti (Kuningan)
Gedung Menara Karya, Ground Floor, Jl. H. R. Rasuna Said No.Kav. 1-2, RT.1/RW.2, Kuningan, Kuningan Tim., Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12950
628111387783
www.ganeshaeksanskriti.com - Ganesha Ek Sanskriti (Kemayoran)
Sainath tower, Jl. Selangit No.10 21st floor, RW.10, Gn. Sahari Sel., Kec. Kemayoran, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10610
628119996886
www.ganeshaeksanskriti.com - Ganesha Ek Sanskriti Elite (Menteng)
The Grand Mansion Hotel, Jl. Borobudur No.10 Ground Floor, Pegangsaan, Kec. Menteng, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10320
628111713080
www.ganeshaeksanskriti.com - Queen’s Tandoor
Plaza Bank Index, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No.Kav. 57, RT.9/RW.5, Gondangdia, Kec. Menteng, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10350
6281398107386
www.queenstandoor.com - Queen’s Tandoor, Permata Plaza, Jl. MH Thamrin | Tel: (62-21) 390 3287 | website: www.queenstandoor.com
- Queen’s of India, Danau Sunter Hotel Jl. Danau Permai Raya | Tel: (62-21) 6583 1477
- Bambaiya (A Bombay Cafe), South Quarter Building Tower A, Cilandak, Jakarta 12430 | Tel: (62-21) 3903287
- Kinara, Jl. Kemang Raya 78-B, South Jakarta | Tel: (62-21) 719 2677
- Taal Restaurant, #1 – Jl. Boulevard Palem Raya No. 38 Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang | Tel: (62 21) 5467285 | website: www.taal-restaurant.com
- Taal Restaurant, #2 – Mall of Indonesia, Italian Walk, Jl. Boulevard Barat Raya, Kelapa Gading, Jakarta | Tel: (62-21) 29704981 ext:598
- Taj Mahal, Jl. H. Samanhudi No. 10A, Pasar Baru | Tel: (62-21) 381 3754
- Tanduri, Jl. RS Fatmawati No. 12 | Tel: (62-21) 769 7589
- The Royal Kitchen, The Bellagio Boutique Hall Ground Floor 16 | Tel: (62-21) 3002 9975 | website: www.theroyalkitchenjakarta.com
- Only Vegetarian, only home delivery | Mobile Phone : (62) 816 911825
- Warung Pakistan, Jl. Fatmawati 23 Jakarta Selatan | Tel: (62-21) 750 4037, 750 7708
- Man Aur Tan, #1 Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Casablanca Kuningan (6th Floor), Jakarta Selatan | Tel: (62-21) 3004 0888, 5296 1188 | Fax: (62-21) 3004 0889, 3004 0890 – Open: 12 Noon – 11 pm
- Man Aur Tan #2 Merlynn Park Hotel Lantai 5, JL KH. Hasyim Ashari, No. 29-31, Jakarta | Tel: (61-21) 30026888
- Namaste Resto, Epicentrum Walk, Ground floor, Kawasan Rasuna Epicentrum Jl. H. R. Rasuna Said, Karet Kuningan, South Jakarta Tel: 021-57941791
- Namaste Resto, Wisma Udaya Building, Ground floor, Jl. Danau Sunter Selatan Blok O-IV kav 35, Tel: (62-21) 6530 3962 / 65300816 | website: www.namasterresto.com
- Koh-E-Noor, Jl. Rasuna Said C-22, Pasar Festival GF.03-04 Jakarta Selatan| Tel: (62-21) 527 6531 | Fax: (62-21) 527 6532
- D’Bollywood, – PLAZA FESTIVAL, 1st Floor, Unit UG -58, Jl Rasuna Said, Kuningan,
Jakarta Selatan, Tel: (62 21) 29410338 | website: www.dbollywoodrestaurant.com - Gokul Vegetarian & Vegan Resto: Jl. Pasar Baru No. 12, Jakarta, Tel: (021) 3810492
- Udupi Shree Krishna: Taman Kemayoran Condominium, Tower Akasia, Ground Floor, Jl. Benyamin Sueb, Kemayoran, Jakarta, Tel: (62-21) 65851444
- Zanas Indian Cuisine, Taman Kemayoran Condominium, Jl. H. Benyamin Sueb, Kemayoran, Tower Eboni Lt. Dasar Unit 003, Jakarta Tel : 0819 0585 1999, 0812 9542 5546, 0828 1702 0202
- Indian Delitz #1, Rumah Susun Boing 1C-103 Kemayoran, Jakarta | Tel: (62-21) 65850822
- Indian Delitz #2, Mall of Indonesia, Lower Ground (Pasar MOI), Jalan Boulevard Barat Raya, Kelapa Gading
- Indian Delitz #3, Jalan Artha Gading Selatan No 1, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta
- Gujari Restaurant, La Piazza Lantai Ground, JL Boulevard Kelapa Gading, Jakarta | Tel (62-21) 45865017
- Little India, Thamrin Residence, Lantai 1, Jl. Thamrin Boulevard, Tanah Abang, Jakarta | Tel: (62-21) 29496288
- Little India Restaurant, Menara Rajawali Lantai Dasar, Mega Kuningan | Tel: +6221 5762288
- Little India Restaurant, Jl. Melawai 189, Jakarta selatan | Tel: 021-27515835
- Le Mint Indian & Saffron, Jl. Sunter Garden No.11, Jakarta Utara | Tel: (62-21) 6514124
- Anjali Cafe (delivery and takeaway), Jalan HR Rasuna Said (Taman Rasuna Kuningan) | Tel: 085888466647, 081310360580
- IFHD (delivery only), Kuningan Branch: Tel 085776372898, 081280387500; Kemayoran branch: Tel: 081514552663, 085777780768 | website: www.ifhd.co.in
- Sindbad, Jalan KS Tubun Raya No 2, Slipi | Tel: 021-5308366, 021-5308367
- Martabak H Abdoel Razak | Jalan Biak 29C Roxy, West Jakarta | Tel: 0818 801330
- Hyderabadi Biryani House | Jalan Salemba Tengah, Central Jakarta | Tel: 0818692405
- Dip n Joy | Mall Artha Gading 2nd floor, Jalan Boulevard Artha Gading, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta | Phone 021-22652407
- Eastern Promise | Jalan Kemang Raya No 5 Kemang, South Jakarta | Phone 021-71790151
- Curry House | UOB Plaza Thamrin, Basement 1 (next to KFC), Jl. M.H. Thamrin no. 10, Basement 1 Jakarta | Phone (021) 31996981
- Babooji | Jl. Gunawarman No.61, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta | Phone (021) 27519913
- Kalture progressive Resto & Cafe, Menara SMBC (Ex-BTPN), Retail Podium Level R, Jakarta 12950 | Tel: 0811-8880-5586 | website: kalturerestobar.com
By Poonam Sagar
For comments and feedback, email to poonam@indoindians.com
