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The 15 Best Curry Houses in Edinburgh

Last updated 6 March 2026
82 total businesses
Avg 4.9★ rating
Edinburgh

Edinburgh may not have the sheer volume of curry houses found in Glasgow, but what Scotland's capital lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. The city has a carefully curated curry scene that ranges from beloved neighbourhood curry houses with decades of history to ambitious modern Indian restaurants that attract national attention.

Leith Walk and the surrounding streets of Leith form the traditional heart of Edinburgh's South Asian dining scene. This long, vibrant road running from the city centre down to the port has been home to some of Edinburgh's most cherished curry houses since the 1970s. Newington, on the south side of the city, is another established curry area with excellent options catering to the large student population from the nearby University of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh's curry houses benefit from the city's foodie culture and its year-round influx of visitors. This has pushed standards high and encouraged a wave of contemporary Indian restaurants that take traditional recipes seriously while presenting them with a level of care that matches the city's broader dining scene. Expect quality ingredients, thoughtful spicing, and a warmth of service that keeps locals coming back week after week.

The ranked list

#1
Chai Baithak - Cafes in Edinburgh
5.00

Cafe

Edinburgh, EH14 2SW
#2
Cha Cha - Street Food in Edinburgh

Cha Cha

Street Food
4.90

Shawarma restaurant

Edinburgh, EH2 1EE
#3
Books N' Cup Cafe - Cafes in Edinburgh

Cafe

Edinburgh, EH3 9JR
#4
Guajira Café & Coffee - Street Food in Edinburgh
4.90

Coffee shop

Edinburgh, EH1 1SU
#5
Bambi"s Cafe - Cafes in Edinburgh
4.90

Cafe

Edinburgh, EH8 9LD
#6
Gurkha Bar and Restaurant Edinburgh - Indian Restaurants in Edinburgh
4.9(4)

Indian restaurant

Edinburgh, EH3 9HW
Vegetarian
#7
Awaafi Indian Arabic Cuisine - South Indian in City of Edinburgh

Indian restaurant

City of Edinburgh, EH11 2NP
Vegetarian
#8
Haldi - Indian Restaurants in Edinburgh

Haldi

Indian Restaurants
4.9(4)

Indian restaurant

Edinburgh, EH9 2BY
Vegetarian
#9
Celestia - Indian Restaurants in City of Edinburgh

Celestia

Indian Restaurants
4.90

Restaurant

City of Edinburgh, EH3 5EP
Vegetarian
#10
Masala Magic - Bangladeshi Restaurants in City of Edinburgh

Masala Magic

Bangladeshi Restaurants
4.9(4)

Indian takeaway

City of Edinburgh, EH4 4GN
Halal
#11
Al Hussain Curry Wala - Pakistani Restaurants in City of Edinburgh

Al Hussain Curry Wala

Pakistani Restaurants
4.9(4)

Pakistani restaurant

City of Edinburgh, EH16 4BG
Halal
#12
Cafe Tehran - Cafes in Edinburgh
4.90

Persian restaurant

Edinburgh, EH9 1SX
#13
Thamel Edinburgh - Takeaways in City of Edinburgh
4.80

Nepalese restaurant

City of Edinburgh, EH7 4BN
#14
Kolachi - Desi Street Food - Pakistani Restaurants in City of Edinburgh

Kolachi - Desi Street Food

Pakistani Restaurants
4.8(4)

Restaurant

City of Edinburgh, EH8 9JG
Halal
#15
Chaskaa Indian Restaurant Edinburgh - Indian Restaurants in Edinburgh

Indian restaurant

Edinburgh, EH3 9LJ
Vegetarian

How we chose these Restaurants

Our rankings are based on a combination of verified customer ratings, review volume, and editorial assessment. We prioritise businesses with consistently high ratings from a significant number of reviewers.

Every business on this list is a verified listing on The Desi Directory. We consider food quality, service, atmosphere, value for money, and authenticity when compiling our guides. Listings are updated regularly to reflect the latest ratings and reviews.

Businesses cannot pay for placement on this list. Our rankings are entirely merit-based and determined by genuine customer feedback.

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